maintain shave-ready, what hone?

[Proinsias]

The DMT course 325 diasharp is nice for keeping most things flat but wet/dry paper on a flat surface does the job too.

[regularjoe]

I say get the 3/8, and don't worry about a 12k stone til some time next year. And no, you don't need a lapping plate at all. You can use sandpaper on a countertop.

[eleblu05]

naniwa 12 and a dmt 325 and you should be good to go

[regularjoe]

So..as you can see Mikeedge...opinions vary wildly.

3/8 will maintain shave ready edges, and also when it gets too dull for the 8k to refresh, you've got the 3k side to back you up.
12k will keep your razor shaving sharp for a good long while, but once it's dull, there's nothing that 12k stone is gonna do.

You decide.

[roughkype]

Hello and welcome to SRP, world's greatest tech-support service for straight-razor shavers.

The 12k is a great hone, quite fast for as fine as it is, but as regularjoe says, it's not fast enough if your blade has gone too dull. It will work for you if you use it right when you first notice the razor is pulling a little.

Conventional honing wisdom says that until you can give yourself a comfortable shave off an 8k edge, you shouldn't spend money or time on a finer hone.

Conventional shaving wisdom says to learn stropping and shaving first, and worry about honing way later. Until you have developed good shaving technique, you won't know if any razor is shaving up to its potential, whether you honed it or a professional honed it. It's easier, when you first start honing, to damage an edge than it is to improve it.

A properly stropped razor should keep shaving you well for a couple of months at least before it needs honing.

What razor do you have, and how long have you been using it? Do you strop it before putting it away, and again before shaving with it? Does it feel like it's tugging hairs instead of cutting them?

Let us know, and we can help you a little better.

Best wishes

[Edwardd]

I have the Norton 4/8 and and an SRD modular paddle strop.I also got a Dovo BQ 6/8 from SRD.I've only used the 8k side of the stone one time on that new razor in 8 months.That was my own mistake,I rolled the toe of the razor going to fast and it came off the end of the strop.The rest of the time,every 2 months I do 10 laps on wool felt with .5 diamond spray and it works great for me.

Oh and I used 400 grit 3M wet/dry sand paper on the counter top to lap both sides of my stone.This combo has worked well on two other old razors I was given dull but in good condition.So I bet the Naniwa 3/8 and a good strop should serve well.

[94Terp]

Conventional shaving wisdom says to learn stropping and shaving first, and worry about honing way later. Until you have developed good shaving technique, you won't know if any razor is shaving up to its potential, whether you honed it or a professional honed it. It's easier, when you first start honing, to damage an edge than it is to improve it.

A properly stropped razor should keep shaving you well for a couple of months at least before it needs honing.

I'l expand on this well stated comment with my 2 cents;

A) learning to strop well will keep your blade useable for a considerable amount of time. When that fails, you can go to

B) Pastes / sprays, or maybe even news print for a touch up, then back to the strop. Adds even more time between honings. Unless that stops working, then I'd go to

C) some finisher / 12K stone for 5 or 10 laps, or send it off.

Unless you're wanting to jump into honing, this'll keep your edge going for a while, and keep some coins in your pocket.


Cheers
Scott

[gary haywood]

I would recomend a 4k/8k norton 8k will be all you need....plus a balsa hone with crox for finishing that will certainly maintain razor and give a smoother edge .... simple set up that will work very well and not cost a bomb ...

[razorguy]

I too have the Naniwa 3k/8k but I use it just when the razor needs honing. (the 8k, of course)
In case my razor needs a touch up, I use either Chinese natural stone or a Swaty, as well as Chromium Oxide, depending on the mood and the job to be done.

[Scipio]

With something with many variables such as razor steel, size, beard coarseness and type, with personal preference, you will receive a multitude of opinions of differing certitude.

The 3/8 Naniwa I own myself. I also own vintage Thuringians and coticules. Get both, but start with the 3/8 Naniwa. If you are successful with this, then progress to the naturals.