Thread: Newbie: To buy a hone or not

Right guys. This is the most useful resource I've come across on SRs.

My predicament is, I'm here in the US on a vacation. I've tried the Parker, safety straight razor last time I was here. Used it or 3-4 months at home. Think I'm ready to take a plunge.

Dovo Best Quality, 6/8, half hollow, along with a not very expensive strop. Once I go back home, I won't have access to shops/ resources where I can order and get equipment delivered.

I will be getting a professionally sharpened blade, but what to do about the hone, should I buy one and take it with me, as I wot be back here for another year.

Appreciate any help on this!


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if you do not have access to strops I'd suggest get a good quality strop.
For hone I would go for a barber hone because it is the cheapest option, and next year may be something synthetic like 4/8k norton.
If money is not object get the 4/8k norton will be what I'd get.
Also get some CrO while here, you will like it.

+1

a good strop,
a norton 4/8 combo

good to go.

What strop would you suggest? I'm absolutely unaware of what to look for in a strop? Appreciate it guys.


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Thanks!

Just approximating here, but this will set me back about $250-300? Total.

I'll call up the straight razor guys. See what they suggest. I was hoping I could get everything I need to start out in about $200.


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What's the CrO? Related to honing / stropping?


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Originally Posted by ahmadrulz

What's the CrO? Related to honing / stropping?


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yes it is used to smooth the edge after the stone if needed, also on a fabric component can be used to bring back edge that has lost a bit of it's sharpness. CrO and notron 4/8k is great combination, it should work well with barber's hone.

Full hollow, give a little more feedback I find than a half hollow.

If you're doing the purchasing from SRD, then get their 4 ounce bottle of Chromium Oxide spray. I find it works very well on the fabric components.

That's the plan so far. Going to purchase from SRD. I understand half hollow are heavier as well. That might be helpful?

Is there a particular stone which is referred to as a 'barber's stone'?

Could you guys point me in it's direction?


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Just some advice, but you may be getting ahead of yourself here. Honing comes later. First, you should learn how to shave, build lather etc..
Once you buy the blade, especially if it's from SRD, it'll be shave ready, and will stay that way for some time. Also, if you don't know how to strop, and you buy one from SRD, I would practice on an old belt or something until I got the hang of it. It'd be a shame to cut into such a beautiful piece of leather. It's a common practice for new guys to cut/nick their strop. What part of the world do you live in?