Quote Originally Posted by RickWY View Post
Ok thanks. So as bad as the edges get the razor hones like I have will be the go to hones?
If I understand your question correctly, then yes, in the right hands your barber hones can be all that is needed for maintaining your razors. Now, some elaboration on that is necessary...

I have maintained some of my razors with nothing but a couple of barber hones for almost 15 years now and they shave quite well. I COULD slightly improve their edges if I honed them on some of the other hones I have acquired over the years, but the improvement only would be noticeable to an experienced shaver but probably not to a novice. The reason for that is all of this stuff is a COMBINATION of tools and techniques. Neither can fully substitute for the other, but technique can get you a lot farther than a lot more tools.

Back to your question...

If you learn how to use them properly, then you can get very good edges using nothing but those barber hones that you already have.