Thread: Razor to learn to hone on.?.

Think I'm gonna give honing a try but I don't wanna destroy a good razor learning any recomendations?? Is the norton 4000,8000 a good stone to learn on I don't wanna spend a lot of cash on this stuff if I never get the nack

Well it's not that hard to hone, but a practice razor isn't a bad idea. I would look for a good 4/8 razor. Why? Cuz they are cheap, and are still good quality shavers. Buying a piece of junk doesn't pay because the only real way to test your hone is to use the blade.

Buy a cheap blade that you aren't too invested in. But don't buy a piece of junk as you'll never know if you did it right.

Good luck!!

Yes, the norton 4/8 is a good stone to learn on. It is quite consistent and capable of turning out shave-ready edges. If you can get shave edges off that you can hold your head up anywhere as a capable honer, IMO. Besides that, there are a lot of very informative threads on using the Norton so you will be very well resourced in your journey.

As far as a razor to learn on, I would suggest a decent razor but not massively expensive. A low end Dovo, for example. You want something that will actually take an edge, and IMO you also want something you care about not messing up - it will prevent you being sloppy and will keep the mind focussed on the task.

I am not a proponent of using "junk" razors as learning tools - to me doing so removes that "care factor" that all careful honers possess. I know that may set me apart from the accepted ideas about learning to hone, but if you care as you learn, you will learn to care.

Good luck!

James.

Copper, you won't get anyone telling you differently about the Norton 4/8. I actually bought one 'cause I'd never used the 8k norton and wanted to know how it worked so I could tell guy just learning to hone. No wonder its a much-loved rock.

On razors, I'm like Jimbo and Earcutter. I find the 4/8 size harder for my size XL hands to hold comfortably, and the larger sizes easier to keep flat. Most guy think any old fleabag from the bay or antique store will do. Although my saying this this will be ignored, stay far away from those razors for now. Unless you get really lucky, the state of the bevel and spine will make it much harder to learn what a normal stroke is supposed to feel like. Its an art of learning to assess minute inputs in feel while you hone. It takes time. If you keep a professionally honed razor on hand to compare your work to - you always have something to shave with, and a way to assess your progress. I and countless others have done likewise. I can say the Glen's 30k shapton edge is SHARP.

In terms of ease to learn with, the 6/8 size was easiest for me to keep flat. The edge should be straight - no smile. If it has a frown, send it out for professional restoration and honing and then try to hone it. Hollow or extra-hollow will respond quickly to the stones. When you reliably get a comfortable shave from an 8k finish - either try other sizes and grinds or maybe a higher grit finisher. The Nani 12k is ALOT of bang for the buck at about $80.

If you are easily discouraged when you don't get instant success, honing is not for you. It takes time to learn what 'no pressure' really means. Keep posting questions here & its virtually certain you'll get it and have a Wow experience that comes from shaving with your own edges and really liking it. Best of luck.

Where would I be able to find a razor to learn to hone on people tell me to stay away from eBay???

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

Think I'm gonna give honing a try but I don't wanna destroy a good razor learning any recomendations?? Is the norton 4000,8000 a good stone to learn on I don't wanna spend a lot of cash on this stuff if I never get the nack

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

Where would I be able to find a razor to learn to hone on people tell me to stay away from eBay???

You might want to consider or give this a try, Whipped Dog Straight Razor Shaving Equipment

There are a few razors on the classifieds here that are cheap from time to time. That's where I would start.

Cheapest one I can find right now is $49.00 - but it looks like it might be a great little shaver too! Reduced Wester Bros Manganese - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Antique stores, Ebay, Dovo website, Boker website, other SR sites online, the classifiedds here. Whippeddog razors are already shave ready...I wouldn't pay that much if I was going to ruin his hone job as soon as I got it. There are TONS of good looking, and easily honeable razors at antique stores for ten dollars-ish. They aren't super collectible usually, but so long as the geometry of the grind is in good shape, and the blades not rusted, that's the option I'd consider first. People tell you to stay away from Ebay if you don't know what you're doing. It's not that Ebay is inherently bad. It's that it is a market where anyone can list merchandise, and anyone can buy it. Uninformed buyer+uninformed seller=potential problems. Not all sellers are uninformed. But you are definitely new. So it'll be safer for you to buy a razor you can hold in your hand before you pay any money.

Gold Dollar razors are dirt cheap. I know they need the stabilizer ground down, but that's not a big job if you have a dremel.

Originally Posted by robellison01

Gold Dollar razors are dirt cheap. I know they need the stabilizer ground down, but that's not a big job if you have a dremel.

Yeah but they are sooo hit or miss with respect to quality that it's near impossible to know if you honed it well or not as they may or may not shave to begin with. Not a blade "I" would practice on - YMMV.