Straight Razor Re-Fresher Set

After having rotated through my razors having them properly honed by Phil at Classic Edge, I've taken the next step and purchased this kit:

Straight Razor Re-Fresher Set (from Classic Edge website)

This set is designed for those that would like to maintain their Straight Razor for as long as possible between Honings. The Belgian Coticule is a 5" x 1 1/2" Select Grade that is the most versatile natural water stone in the world. Select Grade Belgian Coticules range from 8,000 to 10,000 Grit, some say more but I like to under estimate. I will leave a link below for a procedure for using your Coticule to sharpen your Straight Razor that is rather simple and easy to learn. Now you will see in most procedures that they use a small coticule but the reality is the larger the stone the better your performance. We used a smaller stone for affordability so you don't have to break the bank, and if you find that this is for you just upgrade your stone down the road.

Also included is a Balsa Board already charged with Chromium Oxide to refine the edge after you are done with the Coticule. The Chromium Oxide is 60,000 Grit and smooths out the edge so it's not so aggressive and makes for a sharper edge and smoother shave. Some say this is an option. I believe that no Straight Razor should be honed without Chromium Oxide as it makes for an amazing edge.

After you are finished with the Chromium on Balsa make sure to clean off the blade before going to the English Bridle Strop. 40 passes on the leather and you're ready to shave! Here are some Methods used to keep your razor sharp. Thanks for visiting our little Website and have a wonderful day!!

The UniCot method & The Dilucot method - See more at: Refresher Kit for Straight Razors

I will start with this to enter into self-maintaining my razors before I decide to get some hones, whether the Norton or the Naniwa, will look into which is favoured.

In regards to this refresher kit, is there any preferences on either the UniCot or the Dilucot method?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks!

I have the same kit. I use tape when I hone so I use tape when I refresh on the Coti. I use the dilution of slurry method, can't remember what it called. When your razor needs it bring up a slurry on the coti (doesn't need to be crazy thick or anything) and then start you honing strokes. Given the smaller size of the stone I would say start with 30 - 50 laps and then dip your finger into a bowl of water and put a drop on the Coti. Do this until you've diluted the slurry down to clear water/almost clear water. Rinse the stone off and at this point I rub the slurry stone over the Coti and raise a light slurry, then rinse this off as well (basically your just refreshing the surface of the stone). Then 50 laps on water I then add Smith's honing solution (you can get it at Lowe's and it won't gum up your Coti) and do 50 more laps. Then to the board with Chromium and then to the strop. Good luck.

Thanks shooter - so to clarify, go with the Norton or Naniwa.

I'll store the refresher kit for later.

Now, stupid question, I'm still reading, is the refresher kit just a touch up type job whereas the Norton / Naniwa is true honing? Appreciate you explaining the difference for me.

Thanks for taking the time!

You can use the Norton/Naniwa to do either.

On the "true honing" side, you can set most bevels with the 4k side of the Norton/3k Naniwa and you can polish the bevel on the 8k side of either. You should have good shaves off an 8k if done right... maybe not "the best shave ever!!", but certainly passable or DFS material.

For touching up, you can do REALLY light strokes (Glen calls them "butterfly kisses") on the 8k and be just fine. Anything else you want to do at a higher grit will most likely just mellow the edge a bit for a smoother shave.

I personally have the Norton set (lapping stone, 220/1k stone, 4k/8k stone) and a Genco barber's hone that I use for honing and touching up. I also have some CrOx spray from SRP that I got to try out and just sprayed it onto an old cotton belt I found at Goodwill (thrift store). I'm getting consistently smooth edges from most of what I've honed up so far. However, before I had the barber's hone and CrOx, the 8k still gave me a good edge.

None have compared to my benchmark razors that Glen honed for me, but they're certainly good enough!

Whatever you end up with, if you're using a Norton or Naniwa, make sure that they are lapped really well. You can get by with 1k wet/dry sandpaper and a truly flat surface under running water or you can save yourself the cobbling and get a DMT 325. I was lucky and got one about a week ago from Larry at Whipped Dog used for $20!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Now, stupid question, I'm still reading, is the refresher kit just a touch up type job whereas the Norton / Naniwa is true honing? Appreciate you explaining the difference for me.

Thanks for taking the time!

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Crouton hit it on the head, either of these two stones can do both touch-ups and hone extremely well. Personally I recommend a 1K stone for bevel setting...again, Norton, Naniwa, or Shapton GS.

Shooter's dead on target (see what I did there? :) ) about the 1k stone... it simply cuts the bevel faster and adds convenience in honing.

However, if money's tight, you can make do with the 4k until you can add the 1k to your arsenal if you plan on honing and not just touching up. Here's an interesting read on that: http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

If you do plan on full on honing, I would certainly advise picking up the 1k as soon as you can.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by crouton976

Shooter's dead on target (see what I did there? :) ) about the 1k stone... it simply cuts the bevel faster and adds convenience in honing.

However, if money's tight, you can make do with the 4k until you can add the 1k to your arsenal if you plan on honing and not just touching up. Here's an interesting read on that: http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

If you do plan on full on honing, I would certainly advise picking up the 1k as soon as you can.

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OK got it! Thanks for helping me out.

All my razors have now gone through a professional honing and polishing. They shouldn't need to be honed again, using a rotation, for quite awhile.

For the sake of discussion, if I was coming to the end of a razors honing, could the refresher kit I purchased give me more time between full honings?

I'm think I'm getting the impression that the refresher kit coticule's (not a natural stone ??) may do more harm than good? It's ordered, so it's on it way..

Again, thanks Gents for all your help and patience...I've read other threads not to be "afraid" or "overly cautious" about getting into honing, but I admit I am. I know the only way to learn is to get myself a cheapy, and hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by driftwood

I have the same kit. I use tape when I hone so I use tape when I refresh on the Coti. I use the dilution of slurry method, can't remember what it called. When your razor needs it bring up a slurry on the coti (doesn't need to be crazy thick or anything) and then start you honing strokes. Given the smaller size of the stone I would say start with 30 - 50 laps and then dip your finger into a bowl of water and put a drop on the Coti. Do this until you've diluted the slurry down to clear water/almost clear water. Rinse the stone off and at this point I rub the slurry stone over the Coti and raise a light slurry, then rinse this off as well (basically your just refreshing the surface of the stone). Then 50 laps on water I then add Smith's honing solution (you can get it at Lowe's and it won't gum up your Coti) and do 50 more laps. Then to the board with Chromium and then to the strop. Good luck.

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Thanks - good to hear you've achieved good results!

Is it the Dilucot Method you were referring to?

http://www.coticule.be/dilucot-honing-method.html

Cheers!

You have the stuff coming so just shave and strop and enjoy until you feel the razor pulling, scraping, or leaving trials on your face like a bad lawn mower in tall grass. Then what do you have to loose but see if you can bring the edge back some with a few light passes. If not you needed a hone anyway. In the meantime you might find a razor you could practice on. See what you can do with the rock you have before you move on to something else. The 4/8 Norton is like the old school "this is all you got" which will give you all you need in my opinion. You can go on from there to try and improve you shave once you know and can even feel the difference. I am a bigger tipper so there is my 2 bits.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

You have the stuff coming so just shave and strop and enjoy until you feel the razor pulling, scraping, or leaving trials on your face like a bad lawn mower in tall grass. Then what do you have to loose but see if you can bring the edge back some with a few light passes. If not you needed a hone anyway. In the meantime you might find a razor you could practice on. See what you can do with the rock you have before you move on to something else. The 4/8 Norton is like the old school "this is all you got" which will give you all you need in my opinion. You can go on from there to try and improve you shave once you know and can even feel the difference. I am a bigger tipper so there is my 2 bits.

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Thanks 10Pups - appreciate the words of advice!

Yes - I was going to pick up a cheapy and see if I can bring it back to life, or close to it. I need to get to the point where I can maintain my own razors, I'm approaching 100 shaves, all my razors have now had the professional honing treatment, and I felt that refreshing the razor to extend in between honings would be a good start. It should be quite awhile before I need a honing, so there is plenty of time for me to grab a Norton or Naniwa and learn on a cheapy.

Thanks again!

I have to be honest I have the Norton 4/8 and I use that to refresh my razors. I'm not thrilled with the edge I get off the coti that came with the kit. I've tried with/without slurry, Smith's honing oil, etc, etc. I'm blaming my inexperience with honing in general, but I get a really nice shavable edge off the 8K side of my Norton. Everything I have read (and starting to experience) is that natural stones like Coti's vary and some may not live up to the "finisher" level. Oh well I'll keep trying and hopefully it's just me and not the little Coti that came with the kit.