Thread: Help me pick a hone

I own only 2 st8 razors. Do not plan on purchasing more. I am not a collector either nor do I plan on restoring anything other than keep my blade sharp. One is expensive, the other one is a cheap new DOVO. I plan on learning how to hone using the cheaper one of course. I do not own nor have any access to a workshop. I do not shave daily. Maybe once every 2-4 days. My beard isn't barbed wire strong either. I live in an apartment so not many tools around the house. I do like the idea of learning how to sharp/hone myself thus the reason I am making this inquiry. I could pick a honemeister (sp.) and have him hone it 3-4 times per year, but since I only own 2 razors and am not very patient when it comes to waiting for an item to be sent back to me, this is out of the question. From my brief research I'm thinking of going with a fine / extra fine coarse sharpening tool. The idea of lapping (I prefer to use flattening) water stones sounds like a turn off for me so that's a big hell no. Obviously ALL water stones need flattening regardless of brand and the only hone available which seems more friendly to me is the DMT. Input/suggestions/advice please thanks.

I would suggest either a barber hone or the SRD modular paddle. If your razor needs serious honing send it to a honemeister and maintain with one of the fore mentioned items.

P.S. That is not me in the avatar btw

Thank Jimmy could you PM me with a link on where I could purchase such a thing if it's not too much to ask? Got work in a bit I'll check PM later. TY

you can find good barber hones pretty cheap on ebay!

You definitely sound like a candidate for a barber hone. I own many hones, ranging widely in grits, and they serve a variety of purposes. I also play with, and experiment with, many barber hones. They all serve only one purpose, and that is to maintain an already sharp razor.

IF you start with a well honed razor, a barber hone can be used to maintain your razors indefinitely. You sounded like you want to maintain a minimal arsenal of equipment and a barber hone is all that you will need to accomplish that.

Thank you for the replies guys, appreciate it. I wish they were still manufactured today...but will look into it.

Originally Posted by VDX

Thank you for the replies guys, appreciate it. I wish they were still manufactured today...but will look into it.

Swaty alone made over 6 million hones. I am on a quest to categorize many of the hones made by the Carborundum Company, many of which are great razor hones. Lots of other companies made lots of fantastic barber hones. There seems to be an almost limitless supply of these old barber hones available on ebay. The lack of modern manufacture is not really an issue. The key is to buy a decent old one for a decent price.

Originally Posted by VDX

I own only 2 st8 razors. Do not plan on purchasing more. I am not a collector either nor do I plan on restoring anything other than keep my blade sharp. One is expensive, the other one is a cheap new DOVO. I plan on learning how to hone using the cheaper one of course. I do not own nor have any access to a workshop. I do not shave daily. Maybe once every 2-4 days. My beard isn't barbed wire strong either. I live in an apartment so not many tools around the house. I do like the idea of learning how to sharp/hone myself thus the reason I am making this inquiry. I could pick a honemeister (sp.) and have him hone it 3-4 times per year, but since I only own 2 razors and am not very patient when it comes to waiting for an item to be sent back to me, this is out of the question. From my brief research I'm thinking of going with a fine / extra fine coarse sharpening tool. The idea of lapping (I prefer to use flattening) water stones sounds like a turn off for me so that's a big hell no. Obviously ALL water stones need flattening regardless of brand and the only hone available which seems more friendly to me is the DMT. Input/suggestions/advice please thanks.

I like choceras

Big question! If you're really intent on keeping your blade sharp as opposed to letting it get dull and then resharpening it, choose a finishing stone like a belgian coticule. The DMT 8000 will sharpen quickly but the resulting edge isn't face friendly. A DMT8000 is different from a Norton 8000 or Belgian coticule (8000). The results show up on your face.