Thread: To Hone or Pay Someone Else to Hone

Originally Posted by GeauxLSU

One thing not mentioned is the difference in steel with respect to modern razors, ie Dovo, etc, and vintage razors like Wade & Butcher, to pick one. My limited experience points to selecting hones to suit the razor in question. My Norton 4K/8K for most Solingen razors and a coticule/BBW for softer Sheffield steel.

So, in the interest of saving a few dollars, and who doesn't want to, I'd stick with a Solingen razor for your next purchase. The American made razors like Genco, Shumate, Kinfolks, etc have steel similar in hardness to Solingen blades and would also be a good choice.

I knew after my first shave, I was going to really love shaving with a straight. So, honing was necessary, since I couldn't see affording to pay someone to hone the (CLASSIFIED INFORMATION) razors I have now and continue to acquire.

As correct as the above is the harder steel razors are a joy to
shave with if you can get them shave ready sharp. Modern hones
make some of these difficult razors almost easy to hone up. When
the price is right and the scales tight they are worth the effort.

Originally Posted by GeauxLSU

One thing not mentioned is the difference in steel with respect to modern razors, ie Dovo, etc, and vintage razors like Wade & Butcher, to pick one. My limited experience points to selecting hones to suit the razor in question. ...

While the information you posted is correct, it is an advanced honing topic and you will find me at or near the front of that parade. From a newbie's perspective it is not something they should be worried about, especially from a limited honing perspective. Taking the grit and bonding agent of a hone into consideration to match the steel will reduce the honing time and may improve the finished edge a bit but if you are just honing a few blades or less every few months the time to cost ratio will never break even and the edge difference will not justify the cost. I have used Norton hones on Sheffield, Solingen, Swedish and US steel as well as Spanish and French with good results. The one thing I can say for sure is that the steel from each country, and for that matter each manufacturer can vary from razor to razor. The tool is only part of the equation. The way you use the tools, hones in this conversation, has just as much to do with the results, if not more. Considering the OP, a Norton combo along with a good finisher and/or pasted strop will be able to meet his needs regardless of the blades origin if he decides to start into edge restoration and move into the advanced honing topics later if he desires. If this conversation were to obtain the best possible edge in the shortest amount of time and cost were not an issue the steel to hone selection would be the way to go. This is not a criticism of your post just an attempt to keep the OP and other readers of this thread focused on need vs. cost and goal focused over best possible in all situations. It can be compared to changing your car's tires every time the road conditions change as race car teams do or leaving the all season tires on all year. I hope I didn't offend.

Minimally a barbers hone and a leather strop is enough. I agree with JimmyHAD and others about some additional equipment being better. But, a barbers hone and a leather strop will maintain shave readiness.

Originally Posted by Straightrazzin

About 4 months ago I decided to give straight shaving another go. I bought a shave ready razor a couple years back without realizing that it took both work and time to master, so I gave up on the thing. Anyhow, I'm back at it and am really enjoying it. Before getting back into it, I sent my razor out for a professional sharpen but after using it 4/5 times a week, and discovering I've been rolling the blade the wrong way on my strop, I'm feeling due for another sharpen (I'm feeling more of a pulling sensation while shaving). Given last time I spent about $40 all in to get a professional sharpen, I was hoping to get some advice on what I need to bring my razor back to life. I've been reading different posts but for someone with 1 razor who doesn't want to spend thousands on equipment, is there 1 particular hone anyone can recommend to fulfill my goal of getting my razor very sharp? Also, please let me know if you think I NEED anything else or will 1 paddle strop and 1 hone get me 99% of the way there? Appreciate the help!

1. You spent way to much on honing
2. The Norton 4/8 will get you there you really don't need anything else..
3. To get the best edge out of any stone takes practice
4.You need another razor
5. Need and Want are miles and $$$$ apart
6. The 99% goal is dead on, it's that last 1% that we mostly all argue about

Many of us have said this a ton of times, because most of us started with just the Norton 4/8, but if you can't get a comfortable shave off the N8k then higher grits are not really the answer more practice is

There are other competing stones out there now that we have found and they will work too but none have the amount of help and info available as the steadfast Norton...

I see a lot of guys recommend a barber hone and if you have a shave ready razor that needs a touching up that will do it. The reason I always recommend the Norton 4/8 combo is because the 8k will also do it and if you need more sharpening it will do that as well. BTW, the 8k side of a norton combo does not need soaking so if that is the side you're using, say in a touch up, you needn't worry about a 15 minute soak before you can use it. Of course the 4k side does need the soaking.

I figure that while a fellow can maintain his razor with a barber hone the 4/8 combo is so much more versatile that it is far more advantageous to invest in one of those. If in the future vintage razors are acquired off of the bay or out of an antique shop, flea market, wherever , the norton will be enough to get the razors up to speed. Of course a bevel setter and a finisher would be a real plus in getting the job done but the 4/8 is all you really need at minimum.

Originally Posted by Straightrazzin

About 4 months ago I decided to give straight shaving another go. I bought a shave ready razor a couple years back without realizing that it took both work and time to master, so I gave up on the thing. Anyhow, I'm back at it and am really enjoying it. Before getting back into it, I sent my razor out for a professional sharpen but after using it 4/5 times a week, and discovering I've been rolling the blade the wrong way on my strop, I'm feeling due for another sharpen (I'm feeling more of a pulling sensation while shaving). Given last time I spent about $40 all in to get a professional sharpen, I was hoping to get some advice on what I need to bring my razor back to life. I've been reading different posts but for someone with 1 razor who doesn't want to spend thousands on equipment, is there 1 particular hone anyone can recommend to fulfill my goal of getting my razor very sharp? Also, please let me know if you think I NEED anything else or will 1 paddle strop and 1 hone get me 99% of the way there? Appreciate the help!

I made a decision that if I were to keep straight razor shaving I would have to learn how to maintain the blade myself. The big confidence builder for me was getting a little $15.99 Radio Shack microscope with 100x power so I could convince myself that I did the job properly. I think somebody on this forum clued me in on the microscope.

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

Minimally a barbers hone and a leather strop is enough. I agree with JimmyHAD and others about some additional equipment being better. But, a barbers hone and a leather strop will maintain shave readiness.

I like this!!!! You would be amazed at what a little barber hone can do and honestly, until you can master this simple device, you should leave the other stones alone.

Undoubtedly, experience in the actual shave counts for a lot. When I started straight razor shaving, I wanted and needed every advantage I could get. I spent a lot of time learning face prep, lather heat, angles of attack, skin stretching. Part of my emphasis was on blade sharpness. It needed to be scary sharp!

As I became more experienced at shaving, a lot of these "helps" have lessened in importance. Several months ago, I realized that my blade was noticeably less than optimally sharp, but I had continued to shave with the blade in that "poor" condition. I had the time to rehone, and have good equipment. But, it just wasn't necessary to get a nice shave.

I know from many posts that my experience is a common experience. With time, we get better and better shaves, even with less than optimal edges on occasion.

All this leads me to second guessing myself on something I just said earlier. Here it is...

"Minimally a barbers hone and a leather strop is enough."

Maybe, I should say "For someone who is experienced, a barbers hone is enough..." The question in my mind now is whether a barbers hone is enough for someone just learning to shave, or do they need a better edge than the 8K can provide?

I still stand by my "barbers hone is enough", but not as steadfastly as 30 minutes ago. Hmmm...

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

All this leads me to second guessing myself on something I just said earlier. Here it is...

"Minimally a barbers hone and a leather strop is enough."

Maybe, I should say "For someone who is experienced, a barbers hone is enough..." The question in my mind now is whether a barbers hone is enough for someone just learning to shave, or do they need a better edge than the 8K can provide?

I still stand by my "barbers hone is enough", but not as steadfastly as 30 minutes ago. Hmmm...

Actually everyone is right, the only difference is that a Barber's Hone is "designed" to maintain a "Shave Ready" razor where the Norton (or comparable) will create and maintain a "Shave Ready" razor

I think the actual saying is "It is much easier to keep a knife sharp than to sharpen a knife" (unk)

*Yes I know many of us can create a "Shave Ready razor using a Barber's Hone but that is not a newbie thing

Originally Posted by Straightrazzin

About 4 months ago I decided to give straight shaving another go. I bought a shave ready razor a couple years back without realizing that it took both work and time to master, so I gave up on the thing. Anyhow, I'm back at it and am really enjoying it. Before getting back into it, I sent my razor out for a professional sharpen but after using it 4/5 times a week, and discovering I've been rolling the blade the wrong way on my strop, I'm feeling due for another sharpen (I'm feeling more of a pulling sensation while shaving). Given last time I spent about $40 all in to get a professional sharpen, I was hoping to get some advice on what I need to bring my razor back to life. I've been reading different posts but for someone with 1 razor who doesn't want to spend thousands on equipment, is there 1 particular hone anyone can recommend to fulfill my goal of getting my razor very sharp? Also, please let me know if you think I NEED anything else or will 1 paddle strop and 1 hone get me 99% of the way there? Appreciate the help!

If you don't hone your own razors you are missing out on all the fun. It is challenge but very rewarding.