Thread: Hone of the Day

Originally Posted by cudarunner

A friend of mine who is no longer active here at SRP told me that he has spent thousands of dollars buying and selling natural hones searching for the perfect hone that gives a sharp edge but with the buttery smoothness that he desires. The last I knew he hadn't found the 'ONE'.

ME? I'm happy using my Naniwa 1k to set a bevel, my Norton 4 and 8K next and then either my yellow/blue coti (Thanks to a member and friend who lives in Germany that I paid $50 for including shipping for) on Sheffield Steel and my Zulu Grey for all other razors.

I've long maintained that collecting razors, strops, hones etc are a 'Hobby' but using and maintaining straight razors for daily usage is 'A way of life'.

See, there's another one, Roy-I never tried a Zulu Grey. A few years ago, all the cool kids were honing on one. I hear they give up great edges once you get them dialed in. And honestly, once I get a stone "dialed in," there's always that next one, and the next one...That's a lot of the fun in it, for me-just discovering new (to me) hones and seeing what they can do.

Originally Posted by sonnythehooligan

I'll definitely start looking. Griffith is sold out for the time being.

As for Thuris, I would be ok with one that was less wide but longer. I might actually prefer that- when I'm honing usually there is just one small section of edge on the stone at any given time, so a wider stone just doesn't seem as necessary to me as it used to. However, I would prefer a longer stone than some I've seen.

Yeah, I dig my rattlers. I think the hefty spines on them gives them the right amount of weight to just glide over my face when shaving- the razor does all the work, and they feel "safer". I need to watch myself more closely when shaving with smaller razors, I can tend to use too much pressure with them.

This one is long and not bad on the width either, nice full length stone.

Aside from the Escher Barber's Delight, which is the absolute nicest stone I've ever had an edge on a Sheffield razor, I was surprised by the equally sublime edge put on by a Fox No. 44 Extra Soft Water Hone and Rubber, I'm positive it's a yellow/green Thuringian hone, looks exactly like my Barber's Delight, and the slurry was and finishing process was one of those beautiful earthy smells emanating from the hone. Put one of those crisp, sharp, yet very mellow edge that Thuri's are known for.

Nice stones!

I was teasing SHD about needing an intervention but I'm right there with him.

I'm pretty sure I'll pull the trigger on a Thuringian here soon. Also, Griffith emailed me back and advised he is trying to get the Vermio stones back in stock.

SHD's convex ark kinda intrigues me...

Yep. It's a problem.

Those are beautiful, Phrank-You have posted and sold some beautiful "holy grail" hones (and razors!) on this forum over the years. If I ever win the lottery, I'm getting the biggest, longest dark blue Escher I can find (and then put down an offer on your fine collection lol!).

But Roy's point about a "way of life" is valid too. There's something appealing about the simple approach with one or two workhorse hones. It's kind of like the old saying: "Beware the man who only has 1 gun; he probably knows how to use it. " (sub in "hone" for gun)

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Those are beautiful, Phrank-You have posted and sold some beautiful "holy grail" hones (and razors!) on this forum over the years. If I ever win the lottery, I'm getting the biggest, longest dark blue Escher I can find (and then put down an offer on your fine collection lol!).

But Roy's point about a "way of life" is valid too. There's something appealing about the simple approach with one or two workhorse hones. It's kind of like the old saying: "Beware the man who only has 1 gun; he probably knows how to use it. " (sub in "hone" for gun)

I agree, one of the reasons I'm trimming the herd - there are only a couple of naturals I like - a huge superb Coti I have and the Escher Barber's Delight - really, when it come to finishing my razors after the Nani 12k - I go full SRP member Wolfpack - 12k, then Coti, then Escher BD....I plan to use the LaLune Special stone, or the Scotch Hone, or another Escher, and when it come's down to it - I want my razor to feel the way I'm used to - I'm done experimenting lol.

Phrank, you didn't mention that Fox no. 44 in your list of favorites...

I just did a refresh of my 24kt gold plated Koraat on my Thurigan Yellow/Green finisher. Tomorrow shave test.
It's an odd shape so it was bit trying to figure out to cover the whole bevel on the stone, but I think I made it work for myself.

Two very nice vintage NOS French razors on the hones today.

Those are beautiful, Jamie-They have a very art deco look to the designs.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Those are beautiful, Jamie-They have a very art deco look to the designs.

Yes indeed, very art-deco, I don't usually post hone of the day even though I hone quite a few razors most weeks, I don't see many vintage French blades come my way, so when I saw these two NOS French razors I thought they were worthy of a photo.