Thread: Getting started, need advise

I just ordered a Norton 220/1000 combo stone and a 4000/8000 combo stone with the flattening stone. I have a Filly strop which comes pasted on the back. I already have a Boss Barber hone. My question is will I need another stone for finishing or will the Barber hone and pasted strop do the job?

The barber hone is for touching up a sharp razor where the shave quality is falling off. A stop gap until you get around to touching up on the finishing stone. In this case the 8k is the finishing stone and is sufficient to give a good shave. Hone your skills, no pun intended, with those stones and when you've gotten to where you can get great shaves off the 4/8 maybe pick up a 12 or a 16k for further edge refinement. Just IMHO.

Danricgro,

+1 on Jimmys' comments

I made the 'mistake' of including a 12k finisher form the word go, instead of learning to get a great shave off of the 8k.

As a result my honing skills were less than stellar, though my razors certainly shaved well.

Over the last six months, I have re-learned honing 'properly' and can now get very good (not yet great) shaves of the 8k.

Well worth persevering and getting it right from the start

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ