Thread: Whipped Dog "Quarter Nortons"

The ~4/8K would be a good (IMHO) choice since you can do a great deal with it and it keeps the cost down, if that's an issue. Add CrOx to whatever backing you wish and you have a pretty basic but good set-up. Go for the full-sized hone if you can, it's really worth it in the long run.

Originally Posted by RollinCoal69

Glad this was posted. As a str8 user that owns not even one stone I have had to rely on others for honing. I have been looking at the options an reading the reviews. I saw the 1/4 nortons an thought wow that's a good deal, compared to buying a full set. Glad to see some of the top guys in here saying "eh" mayyyyyybe not the way to go. So heres my question. If all I am interested in is maintaining my edges (send them out for major honing) what stone should be used? 4/8 Norton or 12k naniwa or barbers hone or just crox on balsa or crox on leather????? I know yall see how confusing this is for rookies. I was shying away from the 1/4 nortons strictly because of the size. Figured it was an issue. But at the same time the price point makes you go ooooo wait a minute. Its all a bit overwhelming an confusing IMO. Sorry for the rant just

I can totally relate to that.
Starting out in this sport sure can be confusing.

Now, to get you started:
A 4/8 Norton (full sized thank you very much) and a CrO pasted strop will do all you will ever need.
Period!

A 12KNaniwa SS, as long as you use it just as soon as the edge drops just a fraction, will last you a very long time.
If you send your razors out to get a good starting point.
You might let it slip too far, and then it is a round of sending it out again.
But stay alert to what the edge tells you and you can go for years with a single finisher.
Basically, they are just modern barber hones

A barber hone, provided it is a good quality one, will last you ages as long as you take your razors to it as soon as it drops just a little.

Naturally, a 4/8 Norton and a 12K SS is even more comfortable.
But as I said earlier, any of the 3 approaches will get you shaven for years.

Pick one of the methods, they will all work.

I guess the majority of answers confirms my thoughts... I figured a stone smaller than my index finger would not be comfortable...

Since I started looking at straight razors and before owning one, the art of honing fascinated me and I couldn't wait to get my own stone. I really like (and really good at) doing things with my hands. But then I saw the price I need to pay in order to explore this world.

I really want to get a Norton 4k/8k, but it's rather expensive. The price for itself is fine, but the problem is the delivery price (which is at least 20$), and the fact that the stone costs more than 75$, which means I will need to pay 30% taxes on it...
all this concludes the price for a hone originally costing 80$ at about 130-140$, which is insane.

As for a barber hone - I know they're supposed to be (relatively) cheap, and a proper hone will help me maintain my razor until I'm rich and famous and can get all the hones I want...
I looked everywhere. That is - everywhere Google showed me... I don't want to get a brick-shaped rock, so I stay away from ebay...
If anyone knows where to get a good barber hone - please share...

Originally Posted by Haim

I guess the majority of answers confirms my thoughts... I figured a stone smaller than my index finger would not be comfortable...

Since I started looking at straight razors and before owning one, the art of honing fascinated me and I couldn't wait to get my own stone. I really like (and really good at) doing things with my hands. But then I saw the price I need to pay in order to explore this world.

I really want to get a Norton 4k/8k, but it's rather expensive. The price for itself is fine, but the problem is the delivery price (which is at least 20$), and the fact that the stone costs more than 75$, which means I will need to pay 30% taxes on it...
all this concludes the price for a hone originally costing 80$ at about 130-140$, which is insane.

As for a barber hone - I know they're supposed to be (relatively) cheap, and a proper hone will help me maintain my razor until I'm rich and famous and can get all the hones I want...
I looked everywhere. That is - everywhere Google showed me... I don't want to get a brick-shaped rock, so I stay away from ebay...
If anyone knows where to get a good barber hone - please share...

You know, Glen (gssixgun on this forum) used to sell them all the time.
Send him a PM or check out his site at gemstarcustoms.com.
Perhaps he has one available?
Back in the day he used to sell those for like 20-30 bucks or so...
I'm sure there are others out there as well.

If you fail to find one, send me a PM.
I'm sure I can find something in my pile of stones you could use.....

Originally Posted by Lynn

And I would disagree. While we do appreciate the paid for endorsements, the bottom line is that we really do try to help new guys become successful with wet shaving and wetshaving maintenance as well as provide them with credible and reliable information that will help them on their journeys. There are several can do methods and tools out there that certainly would not be recommended to a new person because the chances of success are limited and prolonged. Again, maybe you can do, but..........

Have fun.

I wasn't trying give anyone an endorsment, I was just relaying my experiences. If someone has the $75 plus shipping, a full size stone would be the way to go. All I was trying to say is that if you were on a tight budget, the quarter stone, based solely on my experience, would be the way to go. I don't in any way shape or form claim to be a honemeister. YMMV. I certainly did not mean to mislead any new shavers out there, as I am still fairly new myself.

Considering there are barbers hones all over ebay that are larger and $20 or less, I fail to see where a 1/4 stone is doing anyone any favors...

Just gonna throw this out there. But you can get a full size king 1k/6k for about 45 from amazon. You can shave off that. And for about 30 you can get a Chinese 12k from woodcraft.

Not the popular choice but it will work. Its what I use and I get good results.

Most straight razor blades are about 3" in length; a 2" x 4" inch hone is more than big enough for easy use on blades that size. The full-sized Norton stone is actually excessively big for small knives like straight razors - but boy are they luxurious to use! :-)

Originally Posted by JeffR

Most straight razor blades are about 3" in length; a 2" x 4" inch hone is more than big enough for easy use on blades that size. The full-sized Norton stone is actually excessively big for small knives like straight razors - but boy are they luxurious to use! :-)

As a rule barber hones are 4'x2" minimum. The old barbers I knew back in the '80s mostly had coticules for finishing and they seemed to be coming from the barber supply @ 5x2-1/2". Eschers, which are noted to be for straight razors on the label, are usually 7x1-5/8, 8x2, or the Barber's Delight, Barber's Gem were 6x2. They did make a 10x3 but that was not common AFAIK. Point being that 4x2 seems to be the minimum that manufacturers made for sale. IME a 5" hone is the minimum I'm personally comfortable with and 6 or 7 is better yet. YMMV.

Agreed, Jimmy!
A 4x1.5 just isn't gonna cut it in my book.
Too darn small...
Especially considering this crippled Norton thingy is meant for everything from bevel-setting to polishing.
That is a whole lot of passes that could go south, and in a hurry.