Thread: New to honing. Wish to freshen up shave ready razors

What about a shapton m5 12000 grit

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002LW...XSL&ref=plSrch

Originally Posted by EntropyZero

What about a shapton m5 12000 grit

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002LW...XSL&ref=plSrch

M5 is household eqivalent of 12k Pro, called 15k for export.
Very fast aggressive stone . Needs light hand but gives nice edge after a few strokes on CrO strop.
Would not call it ideal edge for sensitive skin but no doubts about closeness for everybody else.

Im im looking for a blade for sensitive skin as that's a reason I started use a straight to start. Very confusing . I'd just like to maintain my edges and optimize them for sensitive skin. This is much more complicated than I was expecting! I appreciate all the suggestions and advice!

Originally Posted by onimaru55

M5 is household eqivalent of 12k Pro, called 15k for export.
Very fast aggressive stone . Needs light hand but gives nice edge after a few strokes on CrO strop.
Would not call it ideal edge for sensitive skin but no doubts about closeness for everybody else.

Originally Posted by EntropyZero

Im im looking for a blade for sensitive skin as that's a reason I started use a straight to start. Very confusing . I'd just like to maintain my edges and optimize them for sensitive skin. This is much more complicated than I was expecting! I appreciate all the suggestions and advice!

When I hone for sensitive skins I always finish on a superfine Jnat tho the Suehiro 20k can be good too. A coticule can give comfortable edges too but like Jnats the best can be elusive.

The degree of closeness you want can then be the deciding factor on choice but you can manipulate some comfort into an edge with pasted strop after 12k.

Unfortunately honing is subjective, to a point. Maintaining a shave ready edge is easily achieved with one stone, assuming you do no damage. If at all possible see if there is someone local to you who can show you the ropes and possibly a couple different edges with their finishers it will help you decide on which direction to go. My preference is the naniwa 12k. I have some what sensitive skin but ymmv.

Link to mentors: http://http://straightrazorpalace.com/showgroups.php

I maintained my first straight razors for years with just a barber hone and my strop. If you can find a nice specimen it will surely do the trick, and they are usually quite affordable.

If I was to do it all over again however, I would have started off with a coticule. They are great finishers and are very versatile. Which means that as your honing skills progress you can learn to do more work with slurry if need be.

The advantage of buying a new synthetic naniwa 12k or 3k-8k combo stone is that you don't need to worry about it not performing as it is supposed to, they are all the same whomever you purchase it from.

Should you decide on a natural stone or a barber hone, buying from a knowledgable vendor will ensure you get a suitable stone for your needs.

As another newbie I'll throw my two cents in, if it's even worth that. I bought Naniwa Super Stones and am extremely happy with the 12000 for refreshing. Easy to use and just keeps a very nice edge, really nice but probably even more important is to really get the feel for using the strop. It is amazing how well the edge is maintained only with the strop and how much proper stropping will improve the blade, even after a refresh on the 12000.

Originally Posted by apipeguy

As another newbie I'll throw my two cents in, if it's even worth that. I bought Naniwa Super Stones and am extremely happy with the 12000 for refreshing. Easy to use and just keeps a very nice edge, really nice but probably even more important is to really get the feel for using the strop. It is amazing how well the edge is maintain only with the strop and how much proper stripping will improve the blade, even after a refresh on the 12000.

Plus One apipeguy