Thread: Help

Ok so I want to get into honing my own razors as I feel after about 2 months of use they are just not as sharp as they should be. So instead of spending $20.00 every couple of months I would like to just try myself and if I make it even more dull I can always send it to Lynn again.

Now I would like to get into this without breaking the bank but I do not know what I need to get started. I would like to use a stone I do not have to flatten but are those as good as the one you have to flatten. What grits should I get this will be mostly touch up I do not plan on doing restoration at this point. If anyone can post some links of the stones they think I should get that would be helpful as well.

So I will pre-thank you all now for they help as I know this community is always willing to help out.

I would get a Norton 4k8k from one of the vendors here and a 12k Chinese stone. Those two stones will do you. YOu do have to lap the norton but it can easily be done on your counter with a piece of sand paper.

It really depends on what you mean by honing your own razors. How many razors do you have? How many do you intend to have? Do you intend to buy old dull razors? Especially if you plan to hone many old dull razors, the Nortons are a good options. Only the other hand, if you only want to keep sharp the razors that you already have, then a barber hone is perfectly sufficient.

Well to clarify what I am looking to do. I get my razors honed by Lynn and they are just getting dull now. I have 3 razors and I can never say I won't get more as once you start you get RAD. For now I just want to touch up my razors so I can shave with them again.

I started out honing with a Norton 4K/8K that I picked up from lee valley tools. The higher grits are a nice to have because they help get a smoother edge, but by no means are they a must to have. The norton does have to be flattened, but you do not need a flattening stone. I bought a piece of tile at home depot for $6 and some sandpaper and used that to flatten. I also only bought the tile because I didn't think my counter was flat enough. If you have a nice flat counter you can just grab some sandpaper and that will do the trick.

So can I just use the 8k or do you need to start on the 4k then move to the 8k

You can do laps on the 8k to start, strop and test shave. If that doesn't take care of it, move down for a couple strokes on the 4k, and then the 8k, strop and test shave.

Personally, I don't drop to a lower grit stone until I know that I cannot accomplish what I want on a higher grit. IE: moving to a low grit is always more time spent on the hone.

If you are just touching up a razors that have begun to dull a little, then you should not need to drop below the 8k unless you chip or roll the edge. If you only intend to touch up previously sharp razors, then again, a barber hone alone can accomplish this for you.

+1 to Utopian, for keeping the edge on a dulling blade a barber's hone is all you need. It makes things so simple also. 4-6 X strokes on the hone, and it should be good as new. I bought one recently from the Classified and i now have three blades ready to go again. Saves money between re-sharpening, plus if you ever decide to re-sharpen yourself, its a great stepping stone... sorry for the pun.

you just need a finishing stone the problem is you dont want to buy a flatten stone you'll need a flatten stone to lap any stone you get unless its a spyderco uf that would be a good choice if it was me i would get a c-12 stone and a dmtcxx $100 would do it