Thread: cheap hone for a beginner?

ok i know im gonna need a hone at some point. after reading the sticky im thinking something cheaper like a barbers hone, but how do i know which one is a good finisher? ebay has some swatys and whippeddog has some with no name. what do i look for in a barbers hones?

I've never been one to advise on a barber hone for a beginner.
But if that is what your mind is made up on, then read through the forum by using the "Advanced Search " button, above right, put in keywords barber hone, Swaty, etc. This will list threads that talk about barber hones & their use. The time you spend, maybe a few hours reading, will give you tons of information on barber hones.

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.

Originally Posted by nt4sell

ok i know im gonna need a hone at some point. after reading the sticky im thinking something cheaper like a barbers hone, but how do i know which one is a good finisher? ebay has some swatys and whippeddog has some with no name. what do i look for in a barbers hones?

Just started SR shaving recently and have come to a realization that if you have 1 blade... that has a nice edge which you can shave with, preferably a professionaly sharpned one - buy a naniwa 12k finisher to give your blade touch-ups when it needs it and keep it shaving. I sure wish I did lol.

I purchased a Norton 4/8k to start out with and realize while it is a well recommended hone, it's not necessary for a person who just shaves with a single razor and I probobly won't get good use out of it until I start restoring blades. I can do everything off it but I can't get the sharpness a finisher offers - which in the beggining stage means everything since this allows you to develop your technique and gain a better feel for SR shaving at a professional level - which is where we all aim to end up . I would think it's easier this route also since a finisher requires less strokes - meaning less chance to mess up your razor and is only used to keep your blade shaving at it's finest (minus higher grit stones and pastes)

With this being said, the finisher ( and of course a strop ) will keep your blade sharp as can be, and if your careful and go slow make it so that you can keep shaving with 1 blade for a long long time, saving you money from honemeisters and waiting time which means more time for you to become the pro SR shaver you were born to be.

Good luck and happy shaving

Originally Posted by LikesBBS

also since a finisher requires less strokes - meaning less chance to mess up your razor and is only used to keep your blade shaving at it's finest (minus higher grit stones and pastes)

in lynns video on BH hes says only 4 or 5 strokes

Hard to go wrong on 4-5 no pressure strokes.

Lol if you want to save money you could even just buy some Crox or diamond and keep refreshing your blade with that.

Originally Posted by LikesBBS

Just started SR shaving recently and have come to a realization that if you have 1 blade... that has a nice edge which you can shave with, preferably a professionaly sharpned one - buy a naniwa 12k finisher to give your blade touch-ups when it needs it and keep it shaving. I sure wish I did lol.

I purchased a Norton 4/8k to start out with and realize while it is a well recommended hone, it's not necessary for a person who just shaves with a single razor and I probobly won't get good use out of it until I start restoring blades. I can do everything off it but I can't get the sharpness a finisher offers - which in the beggining stage means everything since this allows you to develop your technique and gain a better feel for SR shaving at a professional level - which is where we all aim to end up . I would think it's easier this route also since a finisher requires less strokes - meaning less chance to mess up your razor and is only used to keep your blade shaving at it's finest (minus higher grit stones and pastes)

With this being said, the finisher ( and of course a strop ) will keep your blade sharp as can be, and if your careful and go slow make it so that you can keep shaving with 1 blade for a long long time, saving you money from honemeisters and waiting time which means more time for you to become the pro SR shaver you were born to be.

Good luck and happy shaving

I agree with likesBBS.

I started first with paste (.50 diamond and CroX) and shortly after a finisher (Shapton glass 16k). It was easier to get good results right away, than it was with a progression from bevel setting to edge polishing. Later, when I had confidence on my finishing strokes (or I thought!), I moved to the 4 & 8k stones and in short order the 1k and now the naturals finishers. I have had successes and failures, but it sure helped to know what can be achieved (on a perfect razor) early on vs paved yourself a road with frustration trying to sharpen a blade (e-bay special with many flaws) from bevel setting or more than just a touchup on the finisher. Double O