Thread: Start to hone.

Thank's,

The learning process might be easyer with an artificial stone.
The coticule can always come later...

For some odd and unexplicable reason i don't like the norton stones.
I never had any stone in my hands, so i really don't know where i get it.

So i'll guess i go with the naniwa's...

Is it wise to buy a very cheap ebay razor (GD-like) to practice before using a good razor ?

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.

Dieter-

I'm new also and have the Naniwa 1k, 5k, 8k and 12k. I've been working older razors that need bevel set hence the lower grits. They seem nice to me. I lap with wet/dry paper on a granite inspection table I have. Mostly cause I already had it and want to put it to use. Mine were very flat to begin with. And unless you're honing all the time, they're easy to lap before each use (still very flat)