Thread: 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.

Originally Posted by Damienqwerty

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

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

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.