Thread: Every Day Hone

I just want to get an everyday / touchup hone.

I am looking for suggestions? And where to get them?

Thanks,

Russ

A decent coticule bout is hard to beat for that IMO.

Thanks I also am not sure where to purchase them from?

Here you go: Belgian Coticule Hones

Just ask Jarrod, I'm sure he will find something nice for you.

There are many opinions on what would be the best hone and most are correct in their own way. If you are not familiar with honing razors I think the best and least expensive tool for touch ups would be a pasted strop using a diamond spray/paste or chrome oxide on leather, canvas or similar cloth, hard felt, denim material, balsa wood or even newspaper. These can be purchased from Straight Razor Designs, other preferred shave shops on line or even knife sites on the net. You best bet would be a straight razor vendor's site. This method would use similar skills as you are currently using for stropping.

The next option would be a barbers hone such as the Swaty. A few strokes on this hone and your good to go. If you are not familiar with honing this may cause problems for your razor until you get the hang of it. Then again, it may not cause any problems. These can sometimes be found in local antique shops but your best bet would be EBay. Try PMing GSSIXGUN and ask him if he is still selling Barber's hones.

After the options I noted above you get into natural hones such as the coticule and Escher's as well as the synthetic hones. If all you are doing is touching up your razors I would suggest starting with a pasted strop. It has the least investment and uses your current skills. Later on you can build on that method with hones of your choice. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Joed

There are many opinions on what would be the best hone and most are correct in their own way. If you are not familiar with honing razors I think the best and least expensive tool for touch ups would be a pasted strop using a diamond spray/paste or chrome oxide on leather, canvas or similar cloth, hard felt, denim material, balsa wood or even newspaper. These can be purchased from Straight Razor Designs, other preferred shave shops on line or even knife sites on the net. You best bet would be a straight razor vendor's site. This method would use similar skills as you are currently using for stropping.

The next option would be a barbers hone such as the Swaty. A few strokes on this hone and your good to go. If you are not familiar with honing this may cause problems for your razor until you get the hang of it. Then again, it may not cause any problems. These can sometimes be found in local antique shops but your best bet would be EBay. Try PMing GSSIXGUN and ask him if he is still selling Barber's hones.

After the options I noted above you get into natural hones such as the coticule and Escher's as well as the synthetic hones. If all you are doing is touching up your razors I would suggest starting with a pasted strop. It has the least investment and uses your current skills. Later on you can build on that method with hones of your choice. Hope this helps. Good luck.

True, great post Joed.

How cool wouldn't it be if Naniwa (or others) could come up with a modern barbers hone? A 5x2" double sided 6/12k Chosera something. That would be a hit here.

Originally Posted by Blix

True, great post Joed.

How cool wouldn't it be if Naniwa (or others) could come up with a modern barbers hone? A 5x2" double sided 6/12k Chosera something. That would be a hit here.

WOW that is a great idea.

Originally Posted by pzak327

I just want to get an everyday / touchup hone.
...snip...
Russ

Everyday == good strop with canvas.

Weekly/ Monthly expands the universe of options and lowers the
number of hone strokes.

Weekly you can use a pasted strop. The strop
can be: balsa, canvas, felt, leather, hanging or glued to a block.
Start with a submicron abrasive like 0.5micron Chrome Oxide (CrOx)
or a 0.25 Diamond paste or spray.

CrOx is the classic solution to add smoothness and polish to the
razor's edge. I find that CrOx is very helpful after a barber hone
touch up. i.e. A good barber hone works for some if they have
the discipline to limit themselves to six light hone strokes (hard for me).

Modern fine hones are changing the landscape. I touch up
my edges most often with my 10K or a 12K hone. I am auditioning a couple.
My Nanawa 12K hone is my current winner but today
I shaved off my 10K hone and yesterday off my new 8k hone.
At this point the winner on any given day is the result of
me not the hone. A lot seems to depend on how I lap my 'last hone'.

You might ask the honemaster that previously honed your edge
what he used last. You may be hard put to find some of the
natural finishers that many use but knowing will tell you what
level of finish honing you are shaving with now. My guess is
that this info will guide you to something in the 10K-12K range.

A good Belgian Coticule can be expensive but they are
prized for a reason.

Look hard at a Nanawa 12K... Shapton Glass hones too.

The budget minded should look at the Natural Water Stone
(Chinese "12K") rocks from the likes of "Woodcraft" and
some of the sponsors on this forum.

One work horse hone has always been a 4K/8K combo hone
like Nortons 4K/8K combo. Nanawa has a near equivalent
in its 3k/8k combo.

Remember that all except the barber hones will need
a lap solution to keep them flat!