Thread: I'm a simple honer

I am a very simple person. This transfers over to how I hope my blades. I have Norton's water stone set that goes down to 8k. After finishing with the 8k, I hit my blade on a Swaty stone a few strokes then finish on a 3 sided strop block ( the 4th side is a stone I never use). I do own a coticule stone but I find it isn't needed. When I first started I was a little anal and would inspect blades with a USB microscope.

This is just my process. My barber is well into his 70 and gave me great advice about technique so maybe that is why I have good luck keeping everything basic and simple. Believe me, if my razor didn't cut like a hot knife through butter, I would not me using it.

Be happy, good luck and always be true to yourself.

Sometimes simple is very good, a good friend of mine uses a 1K and JNAT finisher, that's it two stones and edges are excellent.

Originally Posted by ktinch

I am a very simple person. This transfers over to how I hope my blades. I have Norton's water stone set that goes down to 8k. After finishing with the 8k, I hit my blade on a Swaty stone a few strokes then finish on a 3 sided strop block ( the 4th side is a stone I never use). I do own a coticule stone but I find it isn't needed. When I first started I was a little anal and would inspect blades with a USB microscope.

I've gone from very complicated to simple. I have a B&L stereo microscope that I used to use for inspecting tattooing needles when I was in the biz. Adapted that for inspecting edges when I began honing. I haven't looked at it in years. A 30x eye loupe is fine for me. I have gone beyond Norton 4/8, but still use mine sometimes. Nothing wrong with simple, especially if it works for you.

I have stopped using the loup as well. A Norton 4/8 then, depending on the razor, a Swaty, Coticule, or a Thuri. Then canvas/linen and strop. I find this works for me. I have other rocks but this is all I have found needed for 99% of the time.

Nothing wrong with keeping it simple. At the end of the day most probably don't need more than 3-4 hones. Paste optional. Most of my honing is done on Norton single grit 1/4/8 hones. I have a slew of naturals because they're fun to play with. But the Nortons are the workhorses of the hone collection.

Simple rules the day. Life is complicated enough as it is. 4/8/ then 12 for a little smoothness. Never could see what I was supposed to see with a loupe so I use my thumbnail, linen, and strop and final test is the shave. Good shave, on to the next one. If not redo.

I'll jump in here as well. Went crazy with HAD when I started a long 2-3 months ago. Meet with Victor got great tutelage, then went to the meet met and talked with those great guys. Now I feel I have a better understanding of how it works. For the last week I've been using/learning my coticule. Bevel to finish is leaps and bounds every razor.


Enjoy the day,
Benson

Simple is good! I have several stones, different types, Arks, Belgian coticule ,cnat... and a couple different synthetic water stones. Id like to get down to a simple progression, After reading much on this forum it sounds like the 4k/8k Norton has a large following as a base or starting point. Im looking at that and the Shapton Kuromaku in 5k and 8K, similar in price, I do like the thought of the Shaptons being two separate stones instead of the two sided Norton.
Any thoughts from the gurus?
Thanks!

I think unless you offer honing serviced and want multiple finishing options for customers just one finisher that you like is perfect. I have tried some jnat/coti/Thuri and atm my Thuri bout is my favorite stone. I have been selling what I have not been using and I am a happy camper. Eventually will just be down to naniwa 1,3,5,8,12 and my Thuri. And only reason I have Nani 1-5k is because is so I can try out different razors that don't always come with set bevel. If I were to just keep current razors I would have naniwa 8k and Thuri and be good

Originally Posted by BWH1980

I'll jump in here as well. Went crazy with HAD when I started a long 2-3 months ago.

I got by just fine for about 5 years with just a couple of barber hones. Then I found this place.

We all have different standards for crazy.