Thread: Poor newbie's hone set

Hi ! I just recently bought a vintage shave-ready Boker which I feel dulled very quickly. The tip won't cut hair freestanding on my harm, and the rest struggles. To me this isn't sharp enough, I would like it to really grip and cut that hair, Am I unrealistic? I have a very tough beard (I get more or less 4 passes out of Astra plat DE's) and I'm thinking that and maybe too steep of an angle cause the blade to dull so fast, as I have read on here. They say don't blame the razor! Well, I'm trying. Anyway after 1 shave I feel it needs a touch up. I already have a "woodstock" 1k/6k that I bought (on Amazon Canada) for my knives. I'm thinking of getting a Chinese 12k and Whipped Dog's poor man's strop kit. I am not a pro and get mixed results with knives. Would this kit get me going for a while? Anyone's opinion is welcome! Thanks!

one thing you MUST have is a strop, if you are shaving with a straight razor you need a strop. If it came shave ready then all it probably needs is good stropping. To touch up your razors you can get .5 micron spray (Chromium or diamond but I would suggest Chromium oxide) and spray it on some linen (some use back of linen strop but a lot of options with this I believe). Before and after a shave I strop 20 on linen 50 on leather maybe more I usually just strop for a solid minute and I get in enough passes. My straight razors when they are shave ready I can move razor across my arm hair (blade not touching arm, floating like middle of the hair I guess) and it mows hair down. If you were to invest in a Hone because strop only makes edge last so long even with crox probaly best off with naniwa 12k, chinese naturals are really hit or miss I hear. My razors usually go at least 10 shaves before it needs a touch up but I can make it go a very long way.

If I were you I would buy a strop with good reviews, CrOx and use that for awhile before buying a hone.

make sure it is really shave ready by having it honed by someone who knows what they are doing such as one of the members services listed here.(such as Gssixgun or Lynn at straight razor designs)
your expectations aren't unreasonable to have a razor that shaves well and stays sharp. As was said a good strop is a must have. If you are already using one than it is possible that as a beginner you have damaged the edge with improper stropping. It's important to take your time.
I also agree to stay away from the chinese 12k. common advice is to wait until you are skilled at shaving and stropping before trying your hand at honing.

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?

Ancestors used a synthetic barber hone (pretty cheap on ebay) or a coticule or a Thuringian. Coticules are still quarried, Thuringians are only available vintage.

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.

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.

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?

There are a few reasons for the feed back on the C12K. First and foremost that it isn't 12K, naturals can't really be grit rated. Second, natural stones vary from one to the next. Some Cnats make a very good shaving edge. Some are only good for mid level work. If you don't really know how to hone, you won't know how to assess your Cnat. And having a Cnat of unknown honing capacity makes it impossible to help because we simply won't know if your rock is one of the good ones, or one of the mid-level only stones.

If you get a good one they can be a really nice hone. I'd place my Cnat right up there with my Welsh Slates, Arkansas stones, and even my small Shoubudani. And I'd rather use any of those as a finisher than my Kuromaku 12K. Their edges just feel nicer.

I'm a little hesitant to suggest Bluesun hones because I don't have first hand experience with them, but if you look into them nicknbleeding gave Bluesun hones from Amazon a pretty good review. His thread should still be on the front page of the hones forum. I'd say get the 8K combination one and find something else for 1K bevel setting. Maybe a naniwa traditional.

6x2 dan's soft and black stone combination and a small 220 grit diamond card to activate the soft side when you want to.

It would be as fine of a finisher as you're likely to find (with another side that can set bevels but with a light touch prep them for the fine side), and I see them listed for about $56, and figure the diamond card might be another $10.