In the market for hone(s) at a good affordable price

So i am relatively new to straight razors, but as my razor will be beginning to dull in a few months i want to start learning how to hone on a cheaper secondary razor that i have rather than going straight to my primary razor.

i have been looking at buying a barber hone for maintaing the edge and a few other kinds along with antique ones. maybe a naniwa 12000 or Franz Swaty or these on ebay ( vintage razor hones Boss Barber Celebrate Diamond Crescent old sharpening tools)

any opinions on the ebay ones? or ideas for the most simple way to maintain my edge as i dig deeper into this straight razor world?

Make sure you have read the link I provided,, it will help.

The Ebay link you provided has some decent looking barber hones, I would purchase them for my collection, but not to maintain my razors.
You mentioned the Naniwa 12000, you can't go wrong there.


Straight Razor Place - Beginners Tips: November 2014

They look kind of beat. You'd only know if they were good after bringing them back to life. I would prefer a barber hone in better condition.

ahhhaaa thanks Hirlau that really helped out!

Those don't look too awful, the edges aren't all nicked up. If the scratchess on the face are deep it would be worrisome. I just finished bringing 2 barber hones back to life, and it took 2 hours just to get surface scratches out of them. These puppies are hard.

SolitarySoldier is right though. You wouldn't know if they were any good as finishers until they were lapped, polished, and put to work. If you want a barber's hone, I would suggest finding a Franz Swaty in good condition. It's the only brand I've really seen mentioned specifically as a good finishing hone in all the old threads on barber hones. That doesn't mean others aren't worth it mind you, but it's a bit of a gamble.

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Originally Posted by Damienqwerty

( vintage razor hones Boss Barber Celebrate Diamond Crescent old sharpening tools)

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Seller used Comic Sans font, do not buy, has no decency :rofl2:

To finish or refresh, the 12k Naniwa is very good. Use Chromium oxide after the Naniwa and strop and you should be good to go.

The most versatile hone you can buy and one of the most affordable is the norton 4k/8k. The 8k is a fine finisher ( is there better yes but the 8 k edge is a good starting point to learn) The 4k can be used to set bevels and sharpen the razor. In reality it's the only stone you would need. Will be the only one you buy probably not but should be the first one bought and learned.

I am bidding on a norton 4/8 as we speak

What I don't like about the Norton stones is the requirement of immersing them, soaking them. I like the Naniwas because you can just wet them and hone. I use a spray bottle. Also, I suggest getting razors initially honed professionally. Then when they need freshening, get a Naniwa 12K. Eventually, you'll need more than just freshening the edge, and you can get the Naniwa 8K. As the honing of the razor "ages" you will find you want to sharpen more substantial, and the Naniwa 3K or 5K can be gotten, and ultimately when you are ready to set bevels, the 1K. That kind of gradual process will give you about 2 years of patient, gradual building of expertise that won't cost you a lot all at once. Learn to freshen an edge with the 12K; then learn to renew the edge with the 8K or 10k; then learn to re-sharpen the edge with the 3K or 5K; then you learn actually to create the edge, the bevel, with the 1K.

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Originally Posted by LawsonStone

What I don't like about the Norton stones is the requirement of immersing them, soaking them. .

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This only true of the 4k and 1k norton. The 8k can be wetted down and used.

The thing that really turns me off the Norton hones is how soft they are. I wasn't paying attention my first time lapping it, and very nearly wore half the 4k side away on the lapping hone. And the last time I lapped it and smoothed it out, there was a piece of mystery trash on the sand paper that left a nice, deep, half inch long scratch on the face with the first forward push on the paper.

I know this is all user error, and If I bought another, it might well last a lifetime now that I know to be more careful. But it's still somewhat unforgiving and easy to foul up - especially for razor honing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LawsonStone

What I don't like about the Norton stones is the requirement of immersing them, soaking them. I like the Naniwas because you can just wet them and hone. I use a spray bottle. Also, I suggest getting razors initially honed professionally. Then when they need freshening, get a Naniwa 12K. Eventually, you'll need more than just freshening the edge, and you can get the Naniwa 8K. As the honing of the razor "ages" you will find you want to sharpen more substantial, and the Naniwa 3K or 5K can be gotten, and ultimately when you are ready to set bevels, the 1K. That kind of gradual process will give you about 2 years of patient, gradual building of expertise that won't cost you a lot all at once. Learn to freshen an edge with the 12K; then learn to renew the edge with the 8K or 10k; then learn to re-sharpen the edge with the 3K or 5K; then you learn actually to create the edge, the bevel, with the 1K.

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That is very good advice.

You can use a good Barber Hone, but the real good ones are almost the price of a 12k and lesser ones are a crapshoot.

Really, there are only a hand-full of synthetic stones that work with razors. You may have more success with a good diamond plate to lap and maintain a stone. Norton’s have been used very successfully to hone razors for years and are still a great value. A soaked stone will load up less than a splash and go stone, so there is a trade-off and they only need a few minutes of soaking. If you are just maintaining a hand full of razors, it’s not that big a deal.

A few good synthetic are all you need and will be a lifetime purchase. Do buy proven, razor quality stones, trying to save a few dollars with unknown or small inexpensive stones will not produce acceptable results. Of the proven stones, brand name does not matter that much, they all will produce a shave ready edge.

If cost is an issue, a Norton 4/8 or Naniwa 3/8k and 12k Super Stone for about $150 are all you will need, and will produce the exact same results.

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Originally Posted by Marshal

The thing that really turns me off the Norton hones is how soft they are. I wasn't paying attention my first time lapping it, and very nearly wore half the 4k side away on the lapping hone. And the last time I lapped it and smoothed it out, there was a piece of mystery trash on the sand paper that left a nice, deep, half inch long scratch on the face with the first forward push on the paper.

I know this is all user error, and If I bought another, it might well last a lifetime now that I know to be more careful. But it's still somewhat unforgiving and easy to foul up - especially for razor honing.

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The 4k is not that soft and lapping should involve the use of pencil grid lines, watching for their removal, and then stopping. Sorry but paying attention should have been a given. What grit of paper were you using?

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Originally Posted by Utopian

The 4k is not that soft and lapping should involve the use of pencil grid lines, watching for their removal, and then stopping. Sorry but paying attention should have been a given. What grit of paper were you using?

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I was using the Norton lapping hone. What threw me off was starting with the Guangxi hone, and using my experience lapping that as a base for lapping the rest. So I set to work lapping it like it was the Guangxi expecting it to take an hour before I even started to see results. Hence the reason I wasn't paying attention, I was just on auto pilot rubbing the hones together. When I turned it around the marks were gone, along with half the stone. Needless to say I was more attentive with the 8k side of the hone. I've also scratched into it playing with a pocket knife. Like I said, entirely user error.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LawsonStone

What I don't like about the Norton stones is the requirement of immersing them, soaking them. I like the Naniwas because you can just wet them and hone. I use a spray bottle. Also, I suggest getting razors initially honed professionally. Then when they need freshening, get a Naniwa 12K. Eventually, you'll need more than just freshening the edge, and you can get the Naniwa 8K. As the honing of the razor "ages" you will find you want to sharpen more substantial, and the Naniwa 3K or 5K can be gotten, and ultimately when you are ready to set bevels, the 1K. That kind of gradual process will give you about 2 years of patient, gradual building of expertise that won't cost you a lot all at once. Learn to freshen an edge with the 12K; then learn to renew the edge with the 8K or 10k; then learn to re-sharpen the edge with the 3K or 5K; then you learn actually to create the edge, the bevel, with the 1K.

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Haven't heard a strategy for learning and beginning to hone and maintain your own razors put more succinctly than this...perfect!

How long do the naniwas last?

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Originally Posted by Rdefreitas

How long do the naniwas last?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Once you learn how to keep a great edge off of your strop, and all your maintaining is your own razors,,, a couple of lifetimes. Doing 10 or so laps on a 12k once every few months you won't see any wear. Tc

I heard those BBB hones are something special. I have always wanted one of those and a lakeside.

What is a BBB hone?

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Originally Posted by Utopian

What is a BBB hone?

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Big Black & Beautiful.

/wait wrong forum.

I have had a habit over the past three years, of dunking my Naniwa's in a tub of water for no more than 5 minutes. They just feel better, are more consistent over the whole stone, no dry spots. I've never had one break up or any problems. I do not leave them in water, only a brief dunk for a few minutes before use. Can't give a scientific reason, other than to say, I find the end result is a smoother travel back and forth on the stone. (They dry slowly after use).

OP,

the cheapest: lapping film and a granite tile (under 30$ shipped, give or take a few for the granite—I got mine for free, but I like me some rocks)

the most recommended, and for good reason: Norton 4/8. This bad boy is the mac daddy of hones.

Other recommendations:

Arkansas Hones. A real PITA to lap, but not too too expensive, they will last a long time and will produce an amazing edge from what I hear (a big YMMV on that)

Coticules (Either the most overrated or underrated hone of all time, and I currently can't decide, but the price for a bout ain't crazy, and you will at the very least learn to shave with one)

JNATS ($$$$ and you should buy from reputable dealers, but the edges are to die for)

Thuris

Charnleys

Gillette ProGlides *yes I'm joking*