Thread: cheap hone for a beginner?

well the prices are good and ive got a cheap razor to practice on. so i should be able to get it right before having to use it on my new dovo. if i dont get it down by the time it need honed i can always send it out.

Originally Posted by nt4sell

well the prices are good and ive got a cheap razor to practice on. so i should be able to get it right before having to use it on my new dovo. if i dont get it down by the time it need honed i can always send it out.

If your cheap razor isn't shave ready, and just beginning to tug, you're not going to get much practice with a barber's hone. They're higher grit and made to touchup a razor and keep it shaving.

If you're looking to hone vintage and other razors that need some work, you're going to have to invest in something more along the lines of a Norton 4/8k and maybe even the 1k.

First, decide what you're wanting the hone to do, then decide which you'll need.

Howard

Make sure you're not confusing 'inexpensive' with 'cheap'. Cheap will give poor results, leading you to replace it anyway, costing you more than you would have paid for an inexpensive but not cheap hone.

As Hirlau advised, there is a ton of info on the site here about all kinds of hones, and some time spent reading in the forum should pay off for you in the long run.

Regarding barber hones, in addition to looking for a recognized name, make sure you understand how to evaluate the hone's condition (are the edges chipped/damaged, has the original surface been lapped away, has it been damaged or altered in some other way, etc...) before you make your purchase. Again, some reading in advance will save you some frustration down the line.

Good luck

you are correct i did mean inexpensive. the cheap razor will shave but pulls and is very uncomfortable. im looking to touch up my dovo in the future, i dont really see me refurbing any vintage razors.

the cheap razor will shave but pulls and is very uncomfortable

Then stropping might be your answer. But you could try and get hold of a chinese 12K to polish your bevel... I don't think it's necessary, but the hone is pretty inexpensive.