Thread: To Hone or Pay Someone Else to Hone

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It's only been a very few years that there has been this explosion in honing media. Before that most of us used the Norton as our sole hone to do it all .

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This a very true statement. I started in 1968 with a Carborundum 118S and a 3 Line Swaty and that's it. It wasn't until three years ago that I discovered SRP and improved my honing skills little by little since then. Today I have thirty hones, twenty strops and about 150 razors and my edges have improved 100 fold.

The point is that if you are just starting out today, you have many more options than I had 43 years ago. Congratulations and good luck.

Jerry

I just received my Naniwa Value Pack - 5000, 8000 & 12000 Grit Stones which I bought from SRD. Go big or go home! Still plan on watching a couple more youtube videos on proper honing technique before giving it a shot, but thanks all for the comments/suggestions!

Originally Posted by Straightrazzin

I just received my Naniwa Value Pack - 5000, 8000 & 12000 Grit Stones which I bought from SRD. Go big or go home! Still plan on watching a couple more youtube videos on proper honing technique before giving it a shot, but thanks all for the comments/suggestions!

This may be the best kit out there today.
You do want something to keep them flat.

A sheet of 3M wet dry paper on a flat
stone tile is all you need to start. You
are only going to lap off a little bit. If you
think half of a sheet of paper you are good.

Do take advantage of the free slurry that
light lapping gives you. Use it for the first
1/3 of the hone strokes. Dilute for the second
1/3 and rinse clean for the final 1/3.

The Naniwa 12K is a superior hone...
While not alone it is in the hunt....

You will have fun...

The 5k/8k will let you hone
with the pyramid method and
the 12k is gravy and makes for
a fine touch up hone all by
itself.

Thanks. I should have mentinoned this in my previous post but I also went with a Naniwa Lapping Plate 220 Grit. Given I'm still a rookie I'm not entirely sure what most of your third and last paragraph mean, but if you have any youtube/other video recommendations I'd appreciate it. I also reached out to Larry from whippeddog who's going to send me some razors to hone and will give me feedback. Hope to be a pro in no time

Originally Posted by Straightrazzin

....will 1 paddle strop and 1 hone get me 99% of the way there? ....

Congrats to your 3 stones, great choice, great price, now your on your way. All you need now are some old razors to practise.
And maybe a 1 K to set the bevel...oh and how about an original vintage Escher for the ultimate kick in sharpness?
And better get some more Razors to keep on practising.
Ever thought of a Jnat by the way?

Do I see first symptoms of HAD and RAD?
Never mind,

We live in the age of information and sometimes we're overwhelmed with the amount we get. Its difficult to sort it all out. I would suggest you just settle in with your razors for a bit and learn to shave with them and keep them up on a day to day basis with stropping and such. While you're doing that look around here and the rest of the internet and look at a few of the videos on honing. Ask the guy that hones your razors about it. Who knows, for a few bucks he may be willing to teach you. I hone my own but learning was a long process and being somewhat self taught I made mistakes. My personal opinion is, eventually learn to hone your own. That way you know its done correctly and to your liking and if its not, there's no one to blame but you. Once you really get into this and mark my words you will, you'll save a bundle on honing costs.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

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This a very true statement. I started in 1968 with a Carborundum 118S and a 3 Line Swaty and that's it. It wasn't until three years ago that I discovered SRP and improved my honing skills little by little since then. Today I have thirty hones, twenty strops and about 150 razors and my edges have improved 100 fold.

The point is that if you are just starting out today, you have many more options than I had 43 years ago. Congratulations and good luck.

Jerry

Where do you hide all those hones from the better half????? Us newbies need to learn.

I starting to like my vintage good quaility oil stones alot more then any
waterstone i have.
The only water stones i would ever add to my stuff now is the super fine natural
water stones.
The only flaw vintage oil stones have is after every use i wash the oil and metal off.
with warm water soap and a sponge.