Thread: Refreshing recomendations

I will post it here too...

Refreshing recommendations.

Ok. Barber hones as the Franz Swaty are used every 5 to 7 shaves to maintain the edge. And they are supposedly between 8k and 12k. Could i use my Naniwa 10k instead? Is this advisable? Or should i wait until the blade starts to pull etc. to take it to the hone?

Appreciate your comments.


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That does fall into one school of thought. And it works. I doubt that you would wear out a razor in your lifetime doing it but who knows.

The other methodology is to keep touching up with a strop loaded with some sort of abrasive until that doesn't work and then go to the hone.

I've done both successfully and really don't have a preference nor see any advantage to one over the other.

Originally Posted by Carlospppena

Ok. Barber hones as the Franz Swaty are used every 5 to 7 shaves to maintain the edge. And they are supposedly between 8k and 12k. Could i use my Naniwa 10k instead? Is this advisable? Or should i wait until the blade starts to pull etc. to take it to the hone?

My rule is that I refresh as soon as I notice any diminishment in the quality of the shave. If it does not seem to shave like I thought it should, then when I put that razor back in the rack, it goes in upside down to flag it for honing.

That way I don't have to touch it up immediately, or set it aside, or even remember that it needed a touch up. Its being upside down reminds me that it is due for a refresh.

Yes, if you already have one, a Naniwa Pro or Specialty 10k is perfectly adequate for refreshing an edge. 10 to 15 strokes should be sufficient.

I prefer going to a pasted strop first. Mine will hit that strop roughly every 15-20 shaves.
Now if that doesn't get it back to a smooth shave then the 12,000, as said 10 or so rounds

Now I do strop my razor 60-80 round trips on leather before each shave, in my opinion that's why it stays in such good shape for so many shaves

I would do as Utiopian suggested. Wait until you notice a change. I've found in the past that refreshing too often can lead to a harsh edge because you're overdoing it. When that happens, I usually go back to an 8k with a little slurry to back the edge off and then bring it back up. But I would just wait before you do too much.

For over 20 years I did a refresh on a hone every 2 weeks, I never let the shave drop off.

You have to figure your own Maintenance schedule out, but it does work..


There is an old Knife Sharpening adage that applies to this "It is easier to keep a knife sharp then to sharpen a knife"

Mr. Glen suggested this to me couple years back, my routine is shave with a blade 10-12 times then I get out my 12kNaniwa, do about 6-8 ultralight laps and then shave, if its not quite there I,ll do another 6-8, this routine keeps my razors going a long time with nothing else but linen and leather, since doing this I cant tell you if it even needs it. my stropping got to where I could go a long time, but as Glen said why wait till its starting to dull? its called maintenance. works for me and he doesn't see many of my razors anymore unless they need more than that 12k Tc

Dear Tc. I will follow mr. Glenn suggested schedule. Thanx tons.

I tried to avoid it, but i will have to make a table with all my razors to be able to keep track of the amount of shaves and hone frequency etc...

Will i be the only one doing that???


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I don't have the patience or the commitment to keep a table. I've got about 8 that are shave ready, lined up, and recently touched up. I'll probably just tweak them on an as-needed basis when I feel the shave drop off.

A pasted strop with Chrome Oxide, Diamond or CBN, a few laps at the slightest flagging will easily and quickly keep a keen and comfortable edge on your razors, indefinitely.

That and proper stropping on linen and leather. As you stropping improves so will your edges and shaves.

A 10k is a fine refreshing stone.