Thread: Start to hone.

GDs are a lot easier to hone than some vintages I bought on eBay. They need a little work before they can take an edge, the stabilisers and shoulders need to be ground with a dremel or the heel won't come in contact with the hone. It may not be a beginner razor. I would recommend a vintage shave ready. Or srd has good deals on some shave ready stuff or classifieds here.

I really don't recommend getting a GD to learn to hone on...learning to hone is enough of a challenge without adding difficult blades (that may not even take a good edge) to the mix. If you just need to refresh, get a naniwa 12K or a coticule. Don't forget that you'll have to lap whatever stone you get...naniwas are softer stones and need lapping more often.

The GD-thoughts are gone

If i buy a new razor that is not shave ready, can i make it shave ready with the 12K ?
Or do i need the coarser stones as well ?

For now it would only be refreshing, so the 12K is on the list.
Should i buy the Naniwa lapping plate also, or is there a better alternative ?

Thanks a lot for the reply's.

Originally Posted by Geut

If i buy a new razor that is not shave ready, can i make it shave ready with the 12K ?
Or do i need the coarser stones as well ?

Good question. Well, I'd pair it with a Naniwa 3000/8000 grit combo stone as well. It'll give you enough of a range in case you ding the edge of your razor or buy something later that isn't as sharp, etc.

Originally Posted by Geut

Should i buy the Naniwa lapping plate also, or is there a better alternative ?

I use the Naniwa lapping plate, it does the job just fine. It's about a third of a size of a normal stone so you gotta do figure 8s. Remember to lap before you hone, not after (changes in ambient temperature and humidity cause resin based stones warp ever so slightly - nothing you can see with your eyes but lapping before honing will mitigate the issue completely)

Some people prefer a DMT plate for lapping. It's good, but too coarse when new and needs to be worn out with screw drivers or other tools. I didn't want to mess with it and chose Naniwa lapping stone instead.

OK,

Thanks for the help !!!

Gr.
Dieter.

Originally Posted by olbez

Good question. Well, I'd pair it with a Naniwa 3000/8000 grit combo stone as well. It'll give you enough of a range in case you ding the edge of your razor or buy something later that isn't as sharp, etc.


I use the Naniwa lapping plate, it does the job just fine. It's about a third of a size of a normal stone so you gotta do figure 8s. Remember to lap before you hone, not after (changes in ambient temperature and humidity cause resin based stones warp ever so slightly - nothing you can see with your eyes but lapping before honing will mitigate the issue completely)

Some people prefer a DMT plate for lapping. It's good, but too coarse when new and needs to be worn out with screw drivers or other tools. I didn't want to mess with it and chose Naniwa lapping stone instead.

+1 on this. I would also lap the lapping plate as I've heard that they can have some irregularities in them. You can just use the wet/dry sandpaper method for this.