Thread: frictionite 00 honing

Hello SRP, i have a question about how to use my frictionite 00 hone, i found hire its i touch up stone exactly barber hone, that used for maintenance between shaves. But i need to do initial sharpening, i already have 1k shuehiro stone, so the question is should i buy another stones or frictionite + 1k stone is just enough? Thanks!
Another question, i already do about 30 strokes on frictionite so its seems that i overhone, what should i do to fix overhoning?

The Frictionite is an aggressive stone and you may be ok, going from the 1k to the low grit side of the Frictionite, don’t know have never used the Suehiro 1k. Either way, a good 4k would fill out the progression nicely. You will have to try it and see.

If you feel the edge is over honed, and or microchipping, lightly drag the edge on a corner of the stone. Hold the razor on the tang between thumb and ring finger, with the index finger on the spine about midway lightly, you will feel the slightest chip as it contacts the corner. Another light jointing stroke will straighten the edge and remove the thin flagging edge. Sometimes one stroke is all that is needed.

Now, reset the bevel on the fine side of the Frictionite, if you did not use too much pressure 10-20 laps should bring the bevels back to meeting use light pressure when honing. Strop and shave.

You may want to look straight down on the edge and ensure that the bevel is completely set and that the edge is not chipped, often confused for “Over-honing”. Depending on the damage, the repair may be the above or may require more aggressive honing, dropping down to the low grit side or 1k.

Nice photo, love the sepia.

You do not need anything else. The Frictionite is an excellent hone and its two sides give it a lot of versatility. If you already have set the bevel and have done 30 strokes on the coarse side, then the way to fix the over-honing is to not do anything more on the coarse side. Do 5 perfect and light (no pressure) strokes on the finish side of the hone. Then strop and shave. In the future with any other razor, don't do so many strokes on the Frictionite. If you are coming off of a 1k hone, just 5 to 10 (at most) medium pressure strokes should be more than enough to transition you to the finish side of the hone.

I cannot stress this enough. Barber hones, including the Frictionite, do not require a lot of strokes to produce a good edge. Hone 5 strokes, strop, and shave. If you are not happy with the edge, then on the following day, hone 5 strokes, strop, and shave. Repeat this whenever you are not satisfied with the edge. It should be all the maintenance you ever need. If it ever fails to bring back the edge, then go back to the coarse side and again to 5 to 10 medium pressure strokes followed by the 5 no pressure strokes on the finish side.

Don't ever use any pressure on the finish side and don't ever do more than 5 strokes per honing. I have spent a lot of time looking at the effects of barber hones on edges and what I have seen under the microscope completely bears out the instructions of almost every barber hone ever produced, which is that you should only do just a few strokes and with no pressure.