Thread: Next step after Barber's hone?

I've been using a barber's hone for over a year and it does a good job on keeping my razors ready. Since I'm not ready to delve into the ancient and mystery art of full honing, I was wondering what hone to get to use after the barber's hone might be. I've also used Crox--it's just ok, but I was thinking of taking a step along till I get ready to learn the Norton 4/8k? Of course, a stone that I could keep and use when I get ready to learn would be good. Any suggestions? I intend to keep using the barber's hone, so I was thinking something to accompany it and get a little experience in.

Well there are lots of places you could go... i like a natural finisher after a barber's hone... for me it is either a coticule, hunsruek or thuringen but sometimes a 16k shapton is nice... realistically you are looking for a finisher something that seems like it cuts in the 12k+ range (grit only matters to synthetics) some folks like a chinese one or the welsh hone sets.

YMMV,
jim

With the needs you describe, I think a Naniwa 12K would be hard to beat.
Sure, I love all kinds of naturals and have a ton of them, but for sheer consistency, a Naniwa 12K is a great hone at a decent price.
Other synths for you to consider are of course the 16K Shapton or the 13K Sigma, just to name a couple

While I may not be quite as experienced as some on this site I do have 2 cents to throw in and this is it.
The Norton 4k/8k is a great stone to have if only one is considered. You can easily re-set a bevel and do the finishing on the
8K. It can be had for apx. $78 or so and will last through your career as a wet shaver.
It can be laped with abrasive film[sandpaper] on any flat surface.
Just my 2cents, have a good one.

tinkersd

I agree with Norton 4/8k, take a look at the set that includes the 220/1k 4/8k, and the flattening stone. The barber stone is cool, and good to keep you shaving, touch ups, etc...but eventually I think it'd be nice to have a set of all purpose hones. These definitely fit the bill, You can get a great edge off the 8k, and then do a few swipes on your barber hone,

Some Crox after that wouldn't hurt or my personal favorite. SRD's wool felt sprayed with .50 diamond spary. 10 lapps, and it's "Shavana"

For the next step after a barber's hone, I agree with Birnando--the Naniwa 12k puts a great polish on your edge. It's also quite fast, maybe even as fast as a barber's hone, and it's very user-friendly. I have some naturals (Thuringian, coticules, Charnley) but I usually don't go to them until after the Naniwa.

My barber's hone is an 00 Frictionite, and a touchup on its fine side followed by CrOx on felt keeps me very happy.

As far as a first hone to use in place of the barber's hone, that's when you'll want to look at something in the 1k range for bevel-setting, then the Norton 4k/8k is a great choice. That's sort of the plain vanilla razor hone; scores of folks here have used one so any question you might have about it will garner scores of well-informed answers.

Best wishes