Thread: Poor newbie's hone set

Originally Posted by Barbu

I appreciate your feedback gentlemen! Really surprised of your opinions on the C12k, though! The Naniwa 12k is one of those things that seem ridiculously priced priced to me. About 170$ cad for grit in a block.. though currently on sale at paul's finest. I have the feeling I would get a hell of a buyer's remorse if I pulled the trigger on that. What did our ancestors use? I'm sure the common man didn't have expensive stones like that, or did they?

Use the forum search box, upper right of the page, put in 12K Chinese hone and see how many posts you get. That should help clear up any questions on that hone. I don't own one of those hones so I can't comment on them.

Bob

You evil, evil shavers.. You made me buy that damn 130$ rock Figured it'd be easy enough to sell if I mess up. Planning on lapping with 600 wet/dry paper. Ok Bob, now I'm curious.. What do you use for honing? Thanks again everyone.

Originally Posted by Barbu

Ok Bob, now I'm curious.. What do you use for honing? .

I drank the coolaid and went with what the majority seemed recommend, Naniwa hones. They work but then again I am sure others do also. More than one way to skin a cat.

Bob

Thank you. Hope it works out. Who knows there might be a cheap Naniwa in the classifieds soon I would like to know if I should go over with 1000 or 1500 wet/dry after the 600 or it's enough?.

Originally Posted by Barbu

Thank you. Hope it works out. Who knows there might be a cheap Naniwa in the classifieds soon I would like to know if I should go over with 1000 or 1500 wet/dry after the 600 or it's enough?.

I lap my Naniwa hones with a DMT 325 plate. The diamond grit rating on that is 325. If the grit ratings for the diamond plate and W/D sand paper are the same then you should be OK with just the 600 grit W/D paper.

Bob

Youve gotten some good advise. I my opinion, id send the razor to someone for a profesional honing. Cost is minimal but it could take a weeks time.
Id buy a strop. The poorman strop at whippeddog works fine. And when you cut it up it wont kill your pocket book.
Get some cr0x for the back of the cloth-like material of the strop.
Read a lot on how this is done and watch vids to learn. Practice daily with a butter knife on the strop.
Use the newly honed razor and strop after use and before if you want. Id say dont go putting the razor on the stone just yet as it take one inch on the stone in the wrong fasion to damage the edge. Learn stropping and use the cr0x for a little while till you understand stropping and angles before putting razor to stone. You bought a great stone and it will last your life time.

Good luck and enjoy.

Originally Posted by Gasman

. You bought a great stone and it will last your life time.

I'm really glad you said that because it looks awfully thin! About the strop, thought I'd get the kit since it comes with balsa loaded with compounds. I saw it recommended for begginers to minimize the risk of round up my edge. Thanks

Just tried stropping on newspaper.. Picked the finest, flattest one I could find and used a page that was completely covered in ink. It works pretty good! Good enough to bring back a shaving edge I believe. I might wait a little while before buying a real strop. Ima go try it

Straight razor shaving is a big investment up front usually that pays off later. I would suggest you read on up finishing touch up stones before deciding.