Thread: the 8k shave

Originally Posted by Tack

I haven't done a very good job of stating my opinion. Sorry about that, I'll try to do better.

My comment was not directed at you, just the the very first post made. I feel that we are in the same ball park, you should know your tools, but it does not take a lot to get to know an 8k synthetic stone. I really do not do that much work there, if there is something lacking am starting to I think i needed more work else where. I think an 8k is really only going to teach you in relationship to another lower grit stone. What one stones does for the other.

Anyway, should one learn an 8 k before going to more advanced stuff? I would say that going to the 12k is not going more advanced. It should be easy by that point. So why go down to the 8k in the first place? If you just have an 8k and that works then go for it.

I was taught/told when I started into this sport that exact thing, to learn to get a good shaving edge from an 8K hone.

My feelings on it are this, and it goes back to the reasoning I was told when asking the same question...an 8K is for the most part an easily accessed hone (Norton 4/8K) so there's a lot of info and help out there on how to use this hone to achieve a good edge for shaving. The 8K also brings you into the basic level of polishing for an edge on a straight razor. So if you can achieve a good, comfortable shaving edge off of the 8K then it gives you the basics to move on and experiment with other higher grit hones.

If you can't achieve such an edge from an 8K then to bother going any further you are in essence just polishing a turd.

What if I only want to maintain my pro-honed razors? I don't need an 8K but I want to hone, so I'm going to get a JNat. I'll learn slowly and if I muck up the edge, send it back to the honemeister to fix.

Originally Posted by kiwichris

What if I only want to maintain my pro-honed razors? I don't need an 8K but I want to hone, so I'm going to get a JNat. I'll learn slowly and if I muck up the edge, send it back to the honemeister to fix.

Exactly. Or teach yourself to fix it (self-teaching has never been easier) with proper tools.

Horses for Courses.

Originally Posted by kiwichris

What if I only want to maintain my pro-honed razors? I don't need an 8K but I want to hone, so I'm going to get a JNat. I'll learn slowly and if I muck up the edge, send it back to the honemeister to fix.

As i was typing this i was thinking this would be a great example for the saying "Taking the harder path" although after a second thought and half way through typing this post i decided.. surely you have seen that this would be the hardest way to learn.. You saw the harder path and instead decided to take secluded track, blindfolded with no water, food or means of communication.

If you do decide to go down this path, make sure you buy from a vendor who knows what they are selling, to jump from nothing to a jnat is huge so be prepared to send your razor off to the honemaster quite a few more times.. I hope this doesn't come across too harsh as its not intended to be.. You never know though, it may work for you

Thoughts...

Touch up / Maintain -vs- Honing

Two separate things, however I would feel very well armed to "Maintain" any razor for years on an 8k

Really the discussion is only about "Learning to hone" and you should probably try shaving at each level of sharp from the Bevel set up though polishing/pre-polishing, that will really give you an idea of what each level does to the edge..

The 8k shave recommendation is just that, a recommendation and is there to save Newbs some hard earned coin, it isn't a rule set in stone, but it is a truth that we figured out after watching the new guys throw money at the edge without learning the skills to make those expensive stones work for them...
So some years back we tried to help the new guys out by explaining that they should really get a good shave at the 8k level (note the word level) before throwing $$$$ at finishers...
Like many of the other recommendations here designed to make this hobby more affordable, more comfortable, easier, and just more fun, the 8k shave one is often ignored...

I use a 3k & 8k synthetic stone, with a chrome oxide and iron oxide pasted strop - works well enough and gives a shave ready razor. Total cost stands at £20 so far, all in.

I'd just echo the notion that the 8k recommendation shouldn't be construed as a benchmark. But if new shavers would just accept it as a well intentioned, tried and true, recommendation from people who are trying to keep you from repeating their mistakes, this'd all go a bit more smoothly. Sometimes ya just gotta believe, y'know? Kinda like when Dad said don't pee on the electric fence. Sure, it seemed like he was just raining on your parade. But seriously...Don't pee on the electric fence.

Dave,

I actually did the reverse. I bought a Naniwa 12k as my first stone *AND* was nudged toward buying a Nagura slurry stone to make the 12K(and any other stone I got) more versatile. The 12K and .30 CrOx was first for me.

That being said, it was only a short time and several "Buy it Now"s, before I needed to buy a king 1K and a Nani 3/8K combo, a loupe, etc....

Regards,

Your Granddad was well informed! The exact thing I tell my youngest. And you're only as good as your tools...but you have to know your tools first!