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Hey guys,
I've been told that all I need is a whetstone from Meijer or Walmart to hone a straight edge. Is this true? I've never honed a blade before so is there "beginner's hones" that would be cheaper for me in the long run, just like how it's better to buy cheaper strops until I get the hang of it? What should I look for in a hone?
Sort of depends on the starting condition of the razor. For general honing I would consider a Norton 4/8k combo and a DMT D8C (325 grit) diamond plate a minimum setup. If you are just going to touch up your pro honed shave ready razor every once in awhile a naniwa 12k or even some vintage barber hones might serve you well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawaianhamster
OTOH, I would stick with a couple of pro honed blades in rotation and learn how to shave correctly with them, before added honing into the mix. Just IMHO.
Theres a million ways to skin a cat. And you can spend a ton of money on hones. Jimmys advise is spot on. Im not sure of what type of hone they would sell in walmart but most hones that are sold are for tools and knives. I suppose you can shave off them but you can get a Norton 4/8 that is reasonably priced and you know its a winner as many many people have and continue to use them. Good luck.
Hones aren't strops and you can't tell much about a hone from looking at it unless it's so poorly made it has obvious imperfections in it. You need to read our forums and other sources that discuss hones and which are the quality ones. This is not a quick simple subject to just answer quickly.
The Norton 4/8 is probably the closest thing to a quality universal hone as you will find and it's very popular.
You have gotten sound advice here so I won't add my two bits worth. I do have one question though. Whom ever told you that all you need was a whetstone from Meijer or Walmart, have they actually honed a straight razor with one of those?
Bob
Thank you to you and bill! I have been using a pre-honed straight edge razor (I don't think it can be switched out as there's no screw or anything). I've been using it since 4 years ago and it's steadily becoming more uncomfortable shaving with so I figured I might need to sharpen or straighten it out or something.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
I have looked at the other forums, but even the stickies for this only points to tutorials on how to use hones, not buy them. Would you want to point me to the links? I only posted this because the second sticky on this forum states that this is for general questions on hones.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
and yes, Bob, I assumed so. They restore blades for money.
inb4 someone says 'well they're gyping/scamming/etc. everybody'
Did you ever find that C&E brush you were looking for, 4 years ago?
How have you been maintaining your razors edge?
Yes I have, thanks for asking. I could tell it's quality, but I haven't used it at all and just used regular shaving cream since that's all I have at the moment and it works.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hirlau
And I haven't been maintaining my razor's edge...I haven't gotten a strop or a hone yet, which is why I'm starting to post on these forums again.
Well youve come to the right place then. A quality soap, honed blade and a good brush will make your shaves so much more enjoyable. There's tons on here to read up on. I would get the blade honed and get a strop and learn to use it. Srd has great strops , they arent cheap but are a better value than buying poor quality over and over. As far as soap or cream, you can get a tub of proraso for 10 bucks or so and that will last you 3 months. Or a Williams puck for a buck or so. Read on these forums, you have thousands of combined years of experience right here. Good luck.
Why jump to the conclusion that someone would say they are scamming? Just to be clear, when you say blades you mean straight razor blades and not knife blades? The reason I am asking is that there is a difference between sharpening/honing a knife blade and a straight is all. I have also never heard that advocated on dedicated shaving forums.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawaianhamster
Bob
Shaving with a razor for four years and no strop ? That is remarkable. I would suggest if you know a competent old time barber, who knows how to strop a razor, bring it to him and let him work it over on the strop. Should make a significant difference unless it is too far gone for stropping only. One way or another, whatever you do, treat yourself to a good strop.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawaianhamster
Depending on the state of the edge, touchup could probably be done easily with cheap solutions such as paste on balsa. Stropping is useful, and even if you don't buy a leather strop, it may be worthwhile to learn how to palm strop. 4 years without maintenance is a bit ridiculous.
Someone is walking on the ceiling. Seriously, all you need is the right shoes.
The hone advise you got would be bad in my opinion. Who ever told you that was pulling your leg or messing with you for some reason. Either way ,,, I would never let this person do any work for you. Those hones come in fine and course and are great for lawn mower blade and garden shears and maybe an axe or cheaper chisel. Either get a pro to hone your razor if it doesn't shave nice and easy after a good stropping. Minimum you want a Norton 4/8k or something along those lines. Perhaps a Naniwa 10 or12k for touch ups which sounds like where your at now.
You mean a good quality strop right ? I have gotten so lost on this thread maybe I should just bow out and watch :hmmm: