Thread: Hone recommendations

I've been something of a lurker on SRP now for a while, and just started with straight razor shaving within the last week or so. Gotten a few nicks, but not letting that stop me. One thing I think I'm running into after reading many of the threads and watching a lot of your youtube videos, is the fact that I don’t think that my razor has quite the right edge. Anyhow, I'm here in Afghanistan now, and rather than go without a razor while mine is off getting honed, I'm looking to attempt honing myself. Rather than ruin what is a decent blade now, I've picked up a few less expensive used razors here and will probably pick up a couple from whippeddog to boot to practice on. I've spent quite a bit of time watching Lynn's honing videos on youtube, as well as other folks, including other members and to be honest, I still don't know which way to go. I'm leaning toward the Naniwa due to how easy it looks, and not having to make a mess with slurries (I'm probably going to do much of my honing at the office since there isn't much room to spread out at "home"), but they are nearly twice the price. For a guy that only knows what he has seen on youtube, do you think it'd really make a difference which way I went? I've already been to a number of sites pricing it all out, and it seems I'm looking at just over 300 bucks for the Naniwas and a nice strop. I'm not too concerned about the price, but I am concerned about what effect heavy dust and extremely dry conditions will have on the strop and the stones. So I guess so sum it up...

What stone(s) do you recommend for beginners?

And what effect is the dry, dusty conditions going to have on my equipment, since there is no possible way to keep the dust out of anything...

You can keep the stones in their boxes so that's a non issue. The are many different hones. Many like myself started on Norton's. Reasonable and they perform well. Naniwas are certainly good hones. I have a few myself. You won't go wrong with any that are made for razors. And as far as longevity goes, I believe Lynn has said he gets like 3000 razors done on his nortons so that's a non issue also. Regarding strops, I don't know what the desert weather can do regarding drying etc. I will leave that to some one else. Good luck.

Go with the 3k/8k nanwiwa combo for $80 and the latigo strop from SRP, you can get both under $160, but I don't know what the shipping will be. As far as care, pick up some of the FROMM strop conditioner, use the oils from you hand to rub out the strop before each use, and use the strop dressing when you get the strop new, then use the oils in your hand when you rub it. If you feel like the leather is trying to dry out, use some of the strop dressing again. It only has to sit overnight, so it's not like you can't shave for days on end.

Naniwa and Norton are both good hones. Either would be good for a beginner. There's lots of info on here, especially for the Norton's. As far as stropping goes, there's a bit of a learning curve. It's pretty common for beginners to cut into a a strop. I don't know if I'd buy really nice expensive strop until i got it down. My two cents.

Wow, this is some really quick response times, and good advice. Please keep it coming. I figure I've got about 8 months to go so I've got a little time to decide what I'm going to do.

I'm new to honing razors, and after reading around a lot and watching videos, I've gone for the Naniwa 3/8k - and I've been immediately impressed by it. All I can compare it with is the King stones I've used for honing knives and tools, and the Naniwa seems a lot better. It's hard to describe, but it seems to cut better, and I get more tactile feedback using it (and my knife-honing has gone up a notch too).

Alan

I going to suggest the opposite, not to deter you from learning honing, but to provide the least stressful experience. Get another razor, one that has been honed well. Just my two cents.

I'd use a DE. No way I'd hone or strop in heavy dust conditions. The edge will never be "right".

This is my second trip out (just got back to the land of sand), and I haven't had any issues with my gear.. Now, if you are living in a GP tent in the dirt I would be concerned. I've got the poor man strop kit and it has been great so far. This trip I'm moving into hones and i just pulled the trigger on a 6x2coti. i'll probably keep that at work to limit movement and possible breakage... where are you located?

Kandahar, and this is #6 for me. lol. On a good note, I've figured out that what I save in taxes, I can get a nice new razor every month... Once they all come in, I'll be up to 5 or 6 already... Trying out new/used razors... hoping to find something that just screams buy a lot more of me and build a 7 day set...