Thread: Leaving honing to the 'meisters, but...

I'd like to pick up one hone to "refresh" my edges, between sending them out. I've been on SRP and been SR shaving for almost a year now; have 5 straights, all of them honed at least once by Lynn. Since three were from SRD I have a couple of 2d honings coming free, so I have no emergency, but I'd like to start edging into honing by touching up blades that have lost their freshness. I've been on the forum enough to know I'm opening a can of worms (as well as myself to HAD) by asking, but...

I'm thinking a Naniwa 12k to start with a Naniwa 220 lapping plate . It seems to have a good reputation, is used by some of the 'meisters, and is available as a known quantity, as opposed to some other options. It also allows me to backfill my hones as I acquire HAD.

What do you think?

This will be my next progression also I believe, so I will be following this thread to see what the more experienced honers have to say.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I'd like to pick up one hone to "refresh" my edges, between sending them out. I've been on SRP and been SR shaving for almost a year now; have 5 straights, all of them honed at least once by Lynn. Since three were from SRD I have a couple of 2d honings coming free, so I have no emergency, but I'd like to start edging into honing by touching up blades that have lost their freshness. I've been on the forum enough to know I'm opening a can of worms (as well as myself to HAD) by asking, but...

I'm thinking a Naniwa 12k to start with a Naniwa 220 lapping plate . It seems to have a good reputation, is used by some of the 'meisters, and is available as a known quantity, as opposed to some other options. It also allows me to backfill my hones as I acquire HAD.

What do you think?

After purchasing a refresher kit, with a nice select grade coticule and taking a lesson on how to use it, I found I got inconsistent results.

Through a local deal, I got a Norton 4/8k as part of a package deal with a few razors. I then purchased a Nani 12k as a finishing stone. I purchased and used a Naniwa Flattening stone to lap everything, and it worked fine using the pencil grid.

I've used the Nani 12k now on several of my blades and was very impressed how quickly it touched them up and brought them back to life. I put some water on the Nani 12K, and then made sure the blade sat true on the stone, and watched the water in an effort to move it uniformly across the stone, did about 15 laps, then stropped, and was very impressed with the results. Brought it right back and left a nice polish on the blade.

I've got an small Escher coming now, they can work well as a refresher or a final refresher for that nice edge as well.

Here's a video I've watched, Lynn going through the various ways to refresh a blade, including using the Nani 12k, I follow and followed this procedure as exactly as I could and it worked fine for me.

In several months, I'll have been SR shaving for 2 years. I'm not a honemeister but I've been able to refresh my razors to maintain comfortable shaves by using either a Naniwa 12K or coticule followed by 0.5 micro Chromium Oxide on balsa wood for edge polishing then generous amounts of careful stropping on linen/leather before and between shaves.

I never would have believed that I would ever use a straight razor but once I started, the journey has been rewarding. I now have a new Zen hobby using a small rotation of favorite new and vintage razors, a few brushes, soaps and several strops. There's a certain joy and pride using cherished well maintained new and vintage razors.

There are some who have gone many years using simply a barbers hone. Do a little bit of research to find out which ones are top shelf and then buy it of Ebay or a vendor. They are a lot less money than a full hone and are super fast and effective. Unless of course you are thinking about doing restores later, which will require a full arsenal.

If you live in Nags Head, I'd recommend the Naniwa 12K stone and 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper for lapping and cleaning. With the money you save on that, you can have dinner at the Collington Cafe.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I'd like to pick up one hone to "refresh" my edges, between sending them out. I've been on SRP and been SR shaving for almost a year now; have 5 straights, all of them honed at least once by Lynn. Since three were from SRD I have a couple of 2d honings coming free, so I have no emergency, but I'd like to start edging into honing by touching up blades that have lost their freshness. I've been on the forum enough to know I'm opening a can of worms (as well as myself to HAD) by asking, but...

I'm thinking a Naniwa 12k to start with a Naniwa 220 lapping plate . It seems to have a good reputation, is used by some of the 'meisters, and is available as a known quantity, as opposed to some other options. It also allows me to backfill my hones as I acquire HAD.

What do you think?

I think you are pretty smart and have done some reading my only recommendation is the DMT 325 for Lapping as it has multiple uses other than just lapping...

Originally Posted by Phrank

After purchasing a refresher kit, with a nice select grade coticule and taking a lesson on how to use it, I found I got inconsistent results.

Through a local deal, I got a Norton 4/8k as part of a package deal with a few razors. I then purchased a Nani 12k as a finishing stone. I purchased and used a Naniwa Flattening stone to lap everything, and it worked fine using the pencil grid.

I've used the Nani 12k now on several of my blades and was very impressed how quickly it touched them up and brought them back to life. I put some water on the Nani 12K, and then made sure the blade sat true on the stone, and watched the water in an effort to move it uniformly across the stone, did about 15 laps, then stropped, and was very impressed with the results. Brought it right back and left a nice polish on the blade.

I've got an small Escher coming now, they can work well as a refresher or a final refresher for that nice edge as well.

Here's a video I've watched, Lynn going through the various ways to refresh a blade, including using the Nani 12k, I follow and followed this procedure as exactly as I could and it worked fine for me.

+1 to Phrank's experience. First, I bought the Nani 12K for refreshes along with a Nagura slurry stone to expand it's usefulness, then I bought the Nani 3K/8K combo, then King 1K for bevel set.

I watch the videos every month or so or basically when I just want to review before doing a hone session. These guys paved the road that would have been otherwise stoney(pun intended). I included it in my post as it deserves a Page 2 bump.

Now, I've just bought a couple barber hones. See under Shaun's post.

Originally Posted by RezDog

There are some who have gone many years using simply a barbers hone. Do a little bit of research to find out which ones are top shelf and then buy it of Ebay or a vendor. They are a lot less money than a full hone and are super fast and effective. Unless of course you are thinking about doing restores later, which will require a full arsenal.

So true, Shaun. That Apart hone I just prepped. I used for the first time today on two razors that came of the 12k basically. I haven't shaved yet, but they are clearly above the 12K level based on visual inspection and TPT. I don't have a higher stone to compare it too,..but....

Originally Posted by ace

If you live in Nags Head, I'd recommend the Naniwa 12K stone and 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper for lapping and cleaning. With the money you save on that, you can have dinner at the Collington Cafe.

The Naniwa 12K is super easy to learn on.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I think you are pretty smart and have done some reading my only recommendation is the DMT 325 for Lapping as it has multiple uses other than just lapping...

And it won't need lapping like a lapping stone does.

Lynn strops faster than my eyes can follow!!