Thread: Which stone to start with

Hi guys,

First of all, let me say since this is my first post that I'm very happy I found this community, and I've read a lot of good posts that has helped me along so far.

I'm relatively new to straight razors. It's been a year since I got my first one, and I'm now looking to start honing it myself. I had it honed professionally, with a rather good result, but it no long feels that sharp and I think this has to do with a bad stropping technique that I hopefully have sorted out now.

So I would like to buy a stone to learn how to hone and I was wondering which stone I should buy first. I understand that one normally will use multiple stones, but due to a tight budget around xmas I'd like to start out with one and later grow the collection Since my razor was honed to a good condition I was looking at for example buying an 8000 stone? Would this be able to take it back into a shape where it feels sharp and cuts hair without hurting again?

I appreciate all the help I can get

Best,
Fredd

The razor was pro honed and is a little tuggy?

In your case you are not setting bevel or repairing the edge, so you really only need a finishing stone.
Depending on the state of the edge you may even be able to get the edge back by stropping on a pasted strop.
As far as hones are concerned, you can use barbers hone, or 12k synthetic, I would not advise to go for a natural at this point.

I started maintaining my edges with a shapton 16k glass stone (finishing stone) and a diamond pasted strop. It did a good job at it. Latter I bought the 4K & 8k shapton glass to go along with it. You don't have to buy the same stones, Naniwa 12k and Norton 4/8 combo would do the same, or any other brand close to those grid ratings. Double O

Thanks for the answers.

Originally Posted by mainaman

The razor was pro honed and is a little tuggy?

That's it. It's cutting the beard, but it doesn't feel very pleasant (and it's no where near passing the hanging hair test).

So for hones, a 12k would be an alright place to start? As I understand from your answers, since the razor has been honed by a pro and then become duller it is better to start with a high grit, and get a stone with lower grit in the case it doesn't "cut it"?

Fredd

Originally Posted by pfFredd;LY723746205GB

So for hones, a 12k would be an alright place to start? As I understand from your answers, since the razor has been honed by a pro and then become duller it is better to start with a high grit, and get a stone with lower grit in the case it doesn't "cut it"?

Fredd

Yes, yes and yes to all three questions. When I would let my razors edge go too far, some times the edge would benefit of a trip to the 8k stone, then back to your final finisher. By the way, the 8k is consider a finisher (basic), so you could get by with it, however the shaves are a little better from a finer finisher. If all the star align for a beginner honer, he can get very good shaves out of the 8k. And that's what they recommend when you start honing, get a good shave out an 8k, then go to the synthetic finer finishers or naturals. Double O

Ah, I see. Thanks a lot for your help! Appreciate it :-)