Thread: Can anyone help me choose a stone?

Hi all, I,m trying to buy a stone and just wondering about the 2K8K 12K etc

If the higher number always better?

Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

Graham

Welcome to SRP. Each of the grits is meant for a specific purpose. There is an overview of various hones in the SRP Wiki here in "What hone do I need."

Hello Graham, welcome to SRP

Before answering I will make long story short.
You should have a look at the SRP Wiki,
especially the honing 101 and such.
There you will find explainations for most FAQs.

The numbers like 1k (1.000), 5k, 8k etc.
refer (majorly) to a grit rating system called JIS.

It can be compared to grit system used in sandpapers.
You start with 100 Sandpaper to remove scratches
move on to 400 to start to polish
and finish on 800 to get things smooth.

You don´t want to jump from 100 to 800.

This of course is for Sandpaper use.

But for sharpening razors we usually use stones.
But we use several.
(unless you just want to do touch ups)

We use one stone for the bevel setting
one for the initial polish
and one for the finish
then, most of the time we use pastes
then linen and or leather.

To choose wich stone you actually need
you will need to know the conidtion of your razor

I highly recommend reading this article:
What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

ahh jimmy was quicker

remember, you can always send your razor to a honemeister
(favourably from this forum!!!)
he will professionally sharpen it without you being in the need of buying hones
and having to learn how to hone.
I always recommend learning on a razor that you actually not need!

If you hone the razor you need, and mess up,
you won´t have any backup

Thanks Guys, Is there anything for about $40 you could recommend or would I have to spend twice that?

Thanks

Graham

like I said, it depends on what you have to do.

If you have to put your razor through a complete honing session,
because it is completely dull or damaged,
you won´t get far with 40 Bucks.

If your razor is in very good condition,
because it is brand new, or has been used by you for shaving only
and has no damage and just startet to pull,
you could get a touch up hone
like a barber hone
or the chinese 12k for this amount.
I would recommend a pasted strop as well

So the question is,
what is the condition your razor is in

Gray, are you hoping to use your hones to restore older razors, or just a hone to maintain your already sharp razor? Please read through the wiki and avail yourself of all the knowledge gathered there.

Its for a brand new razor (dovo stainless steel)

Many people just go with a set of Naniwa Superstones and 12k Chinese Natural, or the 12k Super Stone (pretty expensive)

Have you been shaving with a straight razor or are you just starting out ? If your Dovo was pre honed a good strop should do for awhile and perhaps a barber hone for maintenance later on. Whether to get razor hones in progressive grits sort of depends on how far into this you intend to go.

One way or the other if your razor needs honing now unless you're an experienced razor honer you should send it out to a honemiester for best results. Learning to hone on one's only shaver is not the best approach. Ebay or flea market finds are better for practicing and learning the stones. IME anyhow.

Thanks again guys, that's so helpful. could anyone recommend s decent barber stone?