just one hone to maintain edge

Hi,

I plan to just purchase a single stone to maintain an edge ( I do not like to buy lots of stuff, weird, I know). I have successfully maintained the edge with a strop and balsa with green chrom. oxide, but would like to get a stone instead.

I want a stone that does not require lapping. I am considering a barbers hone, but do not like that they are not consistent from hone to hone, so I won't know exactly what I am getting. I was also looking at the spyderco UF. Price is of no object, so any suggestions are appreciated. From reading online, it seems like all the natural stones require lapping, so maybe I should go synthetic?

Lapping is easy you can do it with sand paper grit progression up to say 1k on a flat surface.
That said certain brands barber hones are consistent.
You can also get a tested one from Gelen , check out his site
Gem Star Customs - Welcome GemStar Customs

If you do not mind lapping with sand paper, you can get all kinds of naturals , just be warned prices can be pretty high.

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Originally Posted by JMP

... I am considering a barbers hone, but do not like that they are not consistent from hone to hone, so I won't know exactly what I am getting...

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No dishonor in being put off by not knowing what grit you are getting with a barbers hone. On the other hand, even though you know exactly what grit hone you are getting when you buy, say, a Norton 8K, do you really know what 8K means? Until you have used numbers of hones, and have built up a sense what 8K really is, do you really know more about what you are getting when you buy a synthetic 8K hone than when you buy a barbers hone that "is around 8K"?

Do your best to select the best hone. Read and ask. But, don't feel like you are accepting second best to buy a barbers hone.

If you just want one hone...Norton 4/8, Naniwa 3/8K or Combination Coticule/BBW. Any of these stones would serve you quite well for a lifetime.
Best of luck!

You might want to read this thread

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...lynn-glen.html

I just purchased a coticule. Even as a complete novice it took me only 5 minutes with a bit of 180 grit wet and dry flat on my bench top to lap it. Of course I could not have done it with out the wealth of advice on this site. But once you read up on it, it is a very simple process. Check out the classifieds on this site there is often one there.
Good luck with the hone hunting.

There are many options. Most stones, even synthetic one's require the occasional lapping. I'd recommend a Barber's hone. Using a pasted strop with crox will only work so long, eventually, you will need a stone. A few lapps on a Barber's hone, 3-5 every once in a while, will keep your blade in check for some time. I tested this, and most of my razors lasted well over a year. Once your blade requires more than the Barber hone is capable of, You can send it out to a pro....