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So I have a razor, I have my strop, next in line is a finishing stone to keep my edges sharp!
Do i need to worry about something that will set a bevel?
Which kind of stone would be best and is affordable?
I've been searching on ebay and the internet and am finding all kinds of different materials and sizes and prices.
What does everyone suggest?? If I were to purchase ONE stone, what should I look for??
All input is greatly appreciated!
All you need is a finish hone . Unless you damage your razor , you won't need a bevel setter . As for which one , I would say get a Norton 4/8 K , for starters .
It depends. If your razor has been professionally honed and is still in great shape, you could get away with a touch-up stone, like maybe a barber's hone. However, given that new guys tend to dull their razors quickly (I sure did), you'd be best off getting a Norton 4/8k. It's a versatile stone that will teach you a lot about honing.
I'm even coming across stuff like this! Pressed glass hone? Looks like no other 'hone' i've seen.
VINTAGE Lillicrap's hone for old fashioned safety razor blades | eBay
Is an 8k grit fine enough for shaving? Everyone here is talking 12k or more!?!?Quote:
Originally Posted by dave5225
8k is shave ready if done right....we are spoiled and use higher finishers but the improvements are little or none if you cant hone up to 8k.Quote:
Originally Posted by brooksie967
Yes. This.Quote:
Originally Posted by Disburden
A polished turd is still a turd. One must learn the basics first. I'm not talking about creating a foundation (setting a bevel) but that is a great skill to have also.
A norton 8k can serve a wide range of functions depending on how the stone is prepped.
Yes the 8k is fine enough for shaving , finer grit hones will give you a smoother edge . The finer the grit , the smoother the edge . I spent my first year shaving with edges I honed on my Norton 4/8k . The edge is a little harsh , compared to my Shapton 15k , but a little extra stropping will take most of the harshness away . I have a Japanese natural hone that makes the Shapton seem harsh . The nice thing about the 4/8k is that you have the 4k side to go back to , if you mess up your edge .Quote:
Originally Posted by brooksie967
Now with all this said, is there a list of particular brands/types to strictly stay away from!?
That hone is made for DE blades , not straight razors .Quote:
Originally Posted by brooksie967
You can research the forum and find out what others are using . Watch out for sketchy sellers , selling J-nats on ebay . If your not careful , you might end up a flat rock someone picked up off the ground . Know what you're buying before you buy it .Quote:
Originally Posted by brooksie967
a J-nat being a japanese natural?Quote:
Originally Posted by dave5225
For me, a big +++ on the Norton 4/8k. I do roughly 80% of bevel - setting on the 4k anyway, and 8k is plenty for a basic finished edge. The catch is, you need to keep these clean and flat; Norton's flattening stone is an excellent solution, I set my hones right kn top of it.
Yes . I'm sorry , I should have made that clear . Beware of anything on ebay . There are good sellers , and then there are some not so good sellers .
I ised a glass bottle for years as a hone.. I learned it from my grampa... I Used an enders hones then finished on a bottle... Yea, i did that for years until I found this site and found out what a sharp razor was... I wouldn't reccommend it..Quote:
Originally Posted by brooksie967
Nice to hear that somebody else had seen that done Wintchase, the inside of a Glass too :)
To the OP..
There are many paths to chose but YOU have to chose..
The Norton 4/8 or Naniwa 3/8 is a well worn path, so much so that it is more a paved road now :) and this thread contains a ton of info on that road
http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html
In there are tips and tricks from first time honers, to Lynn and everyone inbetween so read, watch, & enjoy
On the other end are the "One Stone Styles of honing"
Lynn and I have posted tons of vids on how to do it, so that all you need is a solid bevel and just about any finisher
http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...lynn-glen.html
There are way more vids on Lynn's Channel and my Youtube Channel on many more stones..
Certain systems get more into the least worn paths to shaving, like using a single Coticule, or the Welsh Slates only, or the Tomonagura and a single J-nat which are possible but not the easiest path to follow.. BTW any person that has mastered these systems will tell you how easy they are to master, and keep a straight face while they do it too...
Once you make a decision, then use the search function to find the threads for that system, and start rubbing the steel on the stones LOL then when you get stuck just ask and there are many here to help...
The lesson gets worse.. I did some reading and saw that Shapton's were reccommended.. They have a glass bottom..when i got them, I thought "great I just bought a flat bottle..." yea I tried to hone on the glass side... I never said I was a bright fellow... I am much better now though... "embarassed smile"..
I didn't not read even thing. but i know from hones that those areQuote:
Originally Posted by brooksie967
out dated. Due to the fact they hone vintage de blades.
the modern de blades cann't be honed to my limited knowledge.
My advise is straight forward, If your razor is shave ready, then all you need to do is keep the edge shave ready! I use a two sided paddle leather strop, I apply a TI paste which is about 10kgrit. Stropping your razor will bring the edge back to shave readiness 100% all the time. My second advise would be to buy a 4 sided paddle strop, you can use one side to strop your razor after using a paste, leaving you with two extra free leather to trying out other type of paste with assuming you use a TI paste on one side.
You can shave off the TI paste 10k grit. smooth and nice If you want to take it a little bit better then you would be looking to finish off with a 12k or higher,. I am a proud owner of a Escher hone which is 12k + I shaved with my TIPTLE this week, it was so bloody razor shape that I nicked my face twice! I have two lines on my face, now I am looking like scar face!
I just wanted to point out that the title of this thread is completely and utterly wrong for the topic of the thread...and for some reason I keep forgetting and coming back. :p I suspect it's a very clever man who titles his thread thusly, in order to ask common questions about random subjects to do with shaving and honing. :) I bow to your skill sir.:bow
How is the topic wrong? I wanted people's opinions on various types of hones that I've seen for sale. No need to be rude.Quote:
Originally Posted by regularjoe
I do not believe he was being rude, it looks like he is smiling while he writes, see the :p :) those denote emotion that can be lacking in this form of communication, many times things can be taken two ways people will try and give a hint using the Emoticons...Quote:
Originally Posted by brooksie967
Sarcasm and Quick Quips can really be taken wrong on forums, so many of us try and use the emoticons to portray something that is easily done face to face with a grin or a simple lifting of an eyebrow :)
Yeah it was a joke. It's been my experience in such misunderstandings, that brevity is my friend. Good day.
Oh geeze. No real offense was taken!! No worries at all! I might have sounded short due to my frustration trying to learn about hones. Trying to find one at a reasonable, less than new or rare antique, price that is of exceptional quality is proving to be a nuisance.
I've noticed that on the days when I can't seem to get a comfortable shaving edge off my coticule, my j-nat or thuringian picks up the slack from my inadequate honing, and improves a less-than-shave-ready edge off a lesser grit....
Quote:
Originally Posted by unit
It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense that polishing a non-shave-ready edge on a high grit finisher with inadequate honing skills would magically make it work...I suspect your honing skills are more adequate than you think. That or you have mythical stones forged in the fires of Mordor.Quote:
Originally Posted by sheffieldlover
To the OP, a norton 4k/8k is a great place to start.
Well in that case, I also suggest the Norton 4/8k synthetic water stone. It is, IMO, the single best hone for the money that a person could have. Rare or ultra fine hones, aren't really necessary. Most of my razors are great shavers at 8k. I'm not sure if your location makes the Norton easy to get.
I was thinking you should have also
put arkansas stone in the post.
First time i got a old razor and sharpen it
and shave with it.
i Ended with a really fine peice of clear arkansas stone.
one that is finer then my other ones.