Thread: Beginner Honing Question

Hey everyone,

I've got exactly 1 year under my belt and somehow managed to keep both ears, nose, and lips in tact (applause). Now that I have begun to really get a feel for shaving, I'm thinking about moving to honing. After recovering from a small, but serious, 'bout of RAD, I now have 9 razors, but only one in shaving condition. I've thought about sending them out, but for the price of having all of them honed, I might as well start picking up a few hones myself.

My question is this: Would I be ok picking up a Norton 1000K, 4000/8000, and using my dixie barber's hone as a finisher, or do I really need a 10k+ finisher? My razors are all in decent shape, no major dings, but I have no idea when the last time they were honed (antique store finds). I also have a W&B that I've done a fair amount of sanding on, so I don't even want to know what I've done to the edge.

Any thoughts? I just figured Norton because it seems pretty popular and I'm not rich enough to afford a set of Shaptons.

Great idea the 1k just makes it that much easier

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html


And there is the proof that it is

I'm currently using Naniwas (400, 1k, 5k, 8k, 12k) and a Nakayama for finishing, but if I knew then what I know now, I think I would have saved some pennies and gone with the Chosera 1k, the Norton 4k/8k combo, and the Nakayama. Of course this will change by next week.

I should add that the low grit stones I use for severely damaged antique store rescues, and not for routine maintenance...

Hey, I'm getting some pretty great and smooth edges off just the Norton 4/8K! It's all about pressure....

The most reliable rocks are well known and already recommended. The only addition would be a special solution sometimes called 'adult beverage' for when the learning curve drives you nuts.

Glen (gssixgun) has a wonderful thread about top tips for honing. High on the list is learning to walk away when one is driving you nuts. Make no mistake - when you first get a nice edge, you'll be on top of the world. That's as it should be - its a nice accomplishment. If possible - find someone experience on the rocks and get some face to face or blade to stone time. 'Really helps.

I have been trying to hone for several years, been through loads of supposedly cheap stones (supposedly as combined I have spent a lot on them) recently I got a Norton 200/1k 4/8k and flattening stone pack. What a difference is made. I can finally, with confidence, get a good shaving edge on my razors. Given that you will need a flattening plate of some description it's well worth considering getting a set like that. I also have a bbw for finishing but to be honest I don't really notice a huge difference between finishing with that or just finishing on the Norton 8k

I guess the real danger with learning to hone is that every time you feel you've made a breakthrough in your honing and edges, you want to redo ALL your edges.... I've just finished a refresh on 13 blades

BTW I lap my 4/8k with a marble tile ($5 from home depot) and some wet/dry sandpaper...... works great

I am also in a situation where I want to learn how to hone my razors. I had purchased Naniwa 8 and 12K to keep my blades refreshed and added the 1K and 3K to those. However, from what I can tell from your post you have been shaving for all this time having never experienced a freshly honed razor done by a real professional. I would HIGHLY suggest that you send out one of your best shavers and get it honed to the point where it is as good as it is going to get. Shave with this razor and maintain it and you will have a benchmark to work with for your own honing. I know that I will have a Bayamontate honed razor in my home as long as necessary for me to come even close to his craftsmanship on my own. I'm looking forward to the next local get together so that I can get a bit of hands on mentoring. Perhaps there is someone near you who can help you learn.

Good luck!

OP, that is pretty much exactly what I am doing atm. I have a Norton 220/1K and 4K/8K combo stones. I have been picking up barber hones on ebay every once in awhile to try different finishes. The only other thing I might recommend you spring for is a lapping plate of some sort. I have used W/D sandpaper and it works, but a DMT or Atoma is so much easier in my opinion (and if you end up getting quite a few stones, cheaper in the long run).

Best of luck, let us know how it goes!

I bought a kit that included the two Norton combo stones (220/1k, 4/8k) plus the Norton flattening stone. I don't know if i got a bad one or not, but that flattening stone ain't worth hooey. I spent HOURS flattening those stones. Then I bought a 6" combo DMT for flattening (and it fits a knife fixture i use). The DMT is a great flattener. THEN I got the 8" DMT 325 (coarse) and LOVE it for the heft and size.

SO now i recommend skipping any sort of flattening stone made by the waterstone co's and getting a DMT instead.

And if you have the DMT, you don't need a 220 waterstone.

If i had a do-over (IIHDO), I'd get a single-grit 1000, a combo 4/8k, and the DMT (the continuous grit type in coarse grade).

Then you can flatten stones, fix dings, establish bevels, and polish them up to make shave-ready razors.

Get a few, or several, shaving good off the 8k BEFORE messing with "finishers". A fine shaving edge can be made with 8k and leather. THEN pick up a finisher or two or three and a barber hone, as they present themselves to you.

and proceed to the graduate level of honing college.

That's my take, at this point in time*, as one who started with rough stuff and learned to use a SR, and make good edges at the same time.



*It takes a while to watch all the videos, you must watch them all, every one. not at once. no we're not ruthless.

beers!

PS: the problem with having a set as described above is that, for a while, you think, "Hey i can fix that" WRT ever razor you see. AND that there can be dangerous to your pocketbook, and the hairs on your weak arm.

PPS: when you want to add another level of complications start messing with pastes.