Thread: Honing Equipment

Hello,

Would it work to simply have one sharpening stone, like a 4000 grit?
I've seen people online who had several stones.

Also, do I need strop paste, or can I have only the sharpening stone?

I only need the bare essentials here.

Thanks,

Corey

If you purchase a shave ready razor you can keep it in shave ready condition for a long time with a regular hanging leather or paddle strop. Later when this no longer works the edge can be touch up with a pasted strop. After a while the pasted strop may no longer work in which case all you should need is a barber hone. I've heard of guys maintaining their razors for years using a barber hone only.............

You can pick up a barber hone cheap on eBay.

If you are going to buy one hone to do everything and only that one hone, Norton 4000/8000 combo

I am not trying to blow you off by sending you to do some reading, but there is a LOT of info and opinions on the subject. I would highly recommend you take a read at What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Library and then ask some questions.

Matt

Originally Posted by ccook70

Hello,

Would it work to simply have one sharpening stone, like a 4000 grit?
I've seen people online who had several stones.

Also, do I need strop paste, or can I have only the sharpening stone?

I only need the bare essentials here.

Thanks,

Corey

Corey,
No, a single 4K will not work.

A single combination stone like a Naniwa 3/8K or Norton 4/8K would work just fine as long as you purchase shave ready razors. You could maintain your razors pretty much forever with either of those stones. You do not NEED a paste, it's just a option.

Back in the day most maintained their razors with a single finishing hone.

Asking that question here is like asking a cocaine addict if he recommends cocaine.

I think we need some background.

If it's money your worried about I can tell you what I use and its a complete honing set up that is less than a hundred bucks.

If its to have just one stone to do everything do a google search of the one stone honing method. Gssixgun has several videos on it.

If your just worried about maintaining a shave ready razor you can buy just a finishing stone or a barbers hone.

Pasted strops are YMMV.

I'm only worried about maintaing a shave-ready razor….

The least expensive way would be a pasted strop.

A lot of people will suggest a naniwa12k.

Both are viable options.

But be warned collecting hones is as addicting as collecting razors.

When it comes to hones, I am a minimalist (even tho I own a couple dozen hones). I don't even use paste but just recently bought some CrOx to experiment with. For a shave ready razor, a strop and proper technique along with a barbers hone should be all you need to keep a razor in tip top condition. stropping is going to be your biggest concern as doing it wrong is detrimental to the life of the edge. Put your location in your profile so that someone close by could offer to mentor you and reduce the amount of trial and error involved in learning. Welcome to SRP.