Thread: Reccomend me a Hone!

I'll be test shaving tomorrow having finished a razor on a Llyn Melynllyn using that exact set up (King then finisher) and will give you my opinion on whether the green or purple hone is the better finisher. The easiest IMO is a Naniwa 12K but they are about £70+ where as the welsh hones are around £20. The nani 12k has many users so advise on how to use it will be plentiful. The only other thing to have is a little diamond plate to raise a slurry on the 6K side to bridge the gap between the 1K & 6K sides, unless the nagura stone raises a slurry, I've not used one but I always assumed it was just to deglaze and clean the stone.

I read the following statement in a barber manual, and it has borne out as something I've forced myself to accept. "Cheap tools is misplaced economy." Point being, if what's advised is not in your budget, wait til it is. It'll be worth it in the end.

Originally Posted by regularjoe

I read the following statement in a barber manual, and it has borne out as something I've forced myself to accept. "Cheap tools is misplaced economy." Point being, if what's advised is not in your budget, wait til it is. It'll be worth it in the end.

Great advice +1 regularjoe !

Originally Posted by MSkiba

G'day gentlemen.

Im seeking a Hone. I have a low budget but like to purchase a quality hone, to add to my current 1k-6k Jap Stone, so Im guessing I need a 12k hone?

Do they come in different sizes? I find my jap stone combo too thin to work with.

If you had a low budget what would you buy for your first proper razor hone (delivered to UK).

Many thanks in advanced.

Mark

Must be me, but you are kinda confusing me here, the King 1/6 is too thin to work with ????
But you only need a finisher???
and you have honed tons of other things so ya know how to hone???


Jeltz seems to have figured out what ya need here so I'll defer to him... G/L

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Must be me, but you are kinda confusing me here, the King 1/6 is too thin to work with ????
But you only need a finisher???
and you have honed tons of other things so ya know how to hone???


Jeltz seems to have figured out what ya need here so I'll defer to him... G/L

Glen just because you can make an edge so sharp and comfortable you could circumcise a fly and he would know more than a Breeze hit him doesn't mean you know stuff...sheesh!

Hi.

I find my stone too narrow to work with and would love a wider one, sorry "thin" is the wrong word. Im really after a 10 -12k finisher. I hear mentions within this thread to Nani 12k but I cannot find one for sale within the UK.

Im not sure if you guys are just using slang words like "nani 12k", or if there really isnt any for sale within the UK.

I said Ive honed before so I have a advantage over your average new comer to the razor world, Im no expert by any means hence coming here and asking for you humble opinion.

I understand cheap tools are no good, but sometimes there is a cheap tool that works and no need for fancy brands. If you guys advise me to stay away from such items like the welsh slate and save up £80 for the good stone then thats what I will do. Im at your mercy

The 'nani' stones are by Naniwa, and you can get them in the UK - invisible edge do the 10k and 12k for about £70, here. (I haven't bought from them, or used these stones, so this isn't a recommendation.)

There's a chap selling Llyn Melynllyn Welsh slate hones on ebay.co.uk (aj_1001), and with postage they'll be £35-40. The stone I got is from a different seller, and he has another one on auction ending tomorrow. (Search ebay for 'Llyn hone' if you're interested.) I'm happy with my LM, but I have very limited experience, so I guess this isn't a recommendation either.

There's a huge thread about these welsh slate hones here for more expert views.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Must be me, but you are kinda confusing me here, the King 1/6 is too thin to work with ????
But you only need a finisher???
and you have honed tons of other things so ya know how to hone???


Jeltz seems to have figured out what ya need here so I'll defer to him... G/L

The King is a 2" wide stone and I assume he means that the blade won't fit on the stone fully but I could be wrong. The King 1000/6000 is about the best value for money starter stone available in the UK, Nortons aren't that easy to get here and tend to be daft price.

Having tested the LM this morning the edge is almost identical to the WT, so either the green or purple welsh slate or a chinese 12K would be a good budget finisher but a Naniwa 12K may suit him better if he wants a 3" hone. When stepping from 6K to 12K I start with a little slurry on the Naniwa raised with diamond plate that I will have just lapped the stone with, I do 20 laps, then rinse and do 20 on water. Compared with doing about 150-200 laps on the budget stones its a lot quicker and easier.

Have you considered a quality barber hone like a Swaty? This should smooth out your edge from the 6K to where you would find the edge comfortable.

Most veteran honers will not recommend a natural stone while learning to hone as there are toooooooo many variables. I know you can make things sharp, but a straight razor is a totally different beast. I was one of those who thought I could just jump in and simply do it. Months later I learned that there wasn't anything simple to it and humbled myself to listen and learn. My edges got better from there...

Lastly, I would like to ask if you have shaved with a razor honed by a veteran honer/shaver?

Naniwa Super Stone 12000 (12K), 20 mm on base | EdenWebshops.co.uk

Another place to look for the naniwa 12k, they also have the 10k 10mm which is quite reasonably priced. If its out of your price range a BBW 100 x 50mm from invisible edge - slightly narrower than a naniwa - could be a valid option, there's alot of variation in sizes as well at 23 quid its worth it IMO. easy to finish on and give a 10-12k edge easily. I handed one to my friend and he's been using it with ease and he uses all synthetics.

Less budget means more learning curve and need for technique in my mind - not always (especially with jnats) but most of the time it seems.

a Barbers hone is also a good budget option. If you have a good honing stroke you should be ok with all of the above and mentioned by other members