Thread: Trying to clarify my understanding

Having read through this thread and the ones suggested by gssixgun, there is one thing I'm still not clear on - and I think this is what I was trying to get at with my last question. I would've thought that unless you were either buying ebay razors or a honemeister, you'd only ever need a finisher. Yet a lot of people seem to use hones below finishing level fairly regularly. Or, at least, that's my impression. I know a few are honemeisters, but is everyone else restoring a new purchase? Why else would you have and use stones regularly? Why does at least every other person on here have a 4/8k?

I don't have a 4/8 but I do have a 1… and some coticules… and some Thuringians. All you need to maintain a blade is a finisher.

Yes, but what do *you*use all those stones for?

Originally Posted by phunni

Yes, but what do *you*use all those stones for?

I can only answer for me: I use them because I also restore razors. And sometimes (although a long time ago now) I buy razors from ebay or a garage sale. And in that case you will often need to reset the bevel or hone away a small chip in the edge. For me, this means starting at 1K, then 4, 8, and finisher. Most people who stick around on this forum tend to have multiple razors, as well as buy and sell razors on a regular basis.

As soon as you find yourself honing razors with edges of unknown provenance, have a series of hones becomes very convenient. Not a true necessity per se, but very convenient nonetheless. And if you buy and sell razors regularly, the investment of 200$ is not that significant.

EDIT: I also forge new razors, and it goes without saying that I need to set the bevel from scratch.

Btw, some people collect hones like other people collect razors.
And some people just like playing with different types of hone to see how they compare to others.
And then again, some people hone lots and lots of razors, and sometimes razors react better to one type of hone than another. Or some hones work better for a specific purpose and that's why they end up with many different type of hone.

But none of those people are just maintaining their own handful of razors. Otherwise they wouldn't need more than just a finisher (or a pasted strop for that matter) If all you do is maintain your own razors, a finisher or a pasted strop is all you need.

Originally Posted by phunni

Having read through this thread and the ones suggested by gssixgun, there is one thing I'm still not clear on - and I think this is what I was trying to get at with my last question. I would've thought that unless you were either buying ebay razors or a honemeister, you'd only ever need a finisher. Yet a lot of people seem to use hones below finishing level fairly regularly. Or, at least, that's my impression. I know a few are honemeisters, but is everyone else restoring a new purchase? Why else would you have and use stones regularly? Why does at least every other person on here have a 4/8k?

I normally recommend that new guys start out with either chromium oxide paste or crayon on the back of the poly webbing or canvas strop. Put it on just until you start to see the color green. When your honed razor starts to pull a little, do 4-7 very light strokes on the treated strop followed by 40-60 strokes on you regular leather strop and on most occasions, you razor will be refreshed. You can continue to do this for quite some time. An alternative to the chromium oxide paste or crayon is spray chromium oxide or .5 diamond spray which both work best on felt.

When the above quits working, then you can obtain the finishing stone of your choice and here I usually recommend 12K or higher. Lately I have been using 4-7 strokes on the finisher followed by the chromium oxide and then a good stropping. A razor can be maintained in this fashion unless damaged for a very long time.

When I am doing refreshing, I rarely go back any further than an 8K hone followed by the finishing stone and whatever media is my choice of the day. If I think the razor needs more than that, i'll just do a re-hone from the 4K to finish or if I feel a bevel set is needed, I will start at the 1K.

Typically your best chance of success comes from building your skills and practice, but by starting off with the chromium oxide, you are giving yourself the time to learn to shave, learn stropping and then the fundamentals of the honing strokes and methods.

Have fun.

I've got... 9 stones now and just pulled the trigger on a vintage coticule. When I get tired of a razor or just want to pass it on, it's nice to give the person an 'option' of which finisher you use as well.

Originally Posted by Lynn

...or if I feel a bevel set is needed, I will start at the 1K.

May I ask - what would be an indication that a bevel set is needed?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Man

May I ask - what would be an indication that a bevel set is needed?

Thanks!

An inability to refresh your razor on a strop, on your finisher, on one of the lower level stones in your progression. The bevel needs to be set.
As well as a plethora of other issues: pitting, rusting, chipping, etc. You get the point

If a blade was well maintained with a strop & a finisher, is it likely to ever get to that stage?