Found my Razors, thinking of getting some naniwa ss's , small progression question.

I recently dug up a bag in my house that had a bunch of stuff I ordered online when I was about 13 years old. 3 straight razors, a strop(Russian) 3 barbers hones (Strop back, Gem*, and an unmarked black one) and last a tube of strop conditioning compound. I immediately felt the urge to try this out again. I didn't really fully understand why I couldn't shave with my razors. I thought I could just use the barbers hones to set the bevel, now after a bunch of researching on honing, I understand what I have to do.

Would you guys suggest getting this progression 1k 2k 5k 8k or this one 1k 3k 5k 8k. I am leaning 2k instead of the 3k because if you count the 1k in the progression, then the grits are evenly separated 1-3-5 until 5 which goes 5--8. My brain is thinking of the 1k as bevel setter and the progression starting at the 2k. This would also be evenly separated as (1) 2--5--8 maybe I think too much but this way the progression keeps going up in increments of 2, 8--10--12

You think too much. :)

Been using a 1-3-8-12 progression and it seems to work.

Bob

The one then either the 3 or 5 then 8 will work fine although the 3 might be a little easier transition. Start with a pro honed blade for reference

I just use 1, 4 & 8K's.

My honing skills, or lack thereof, doesn't warrant anything more.

1-4-8 will do what you need to do. If you add a 2 you have a progression where each step is twice as fine as the last (if you are OCD :) ). Also keep in mind that they need to be from the same manufacturer if you want to maintain that 'doubling' effect.

Keep in mind that the 1K is really only necessary for heavy bevel resetting/restoration work. If your razor is in good shape to begin with a 3K will reset the bevel nicely.

Bob

Another thought is that if your blade is in good condition a 3k/8K combo stone might be all you need for starters. Considering the general opinion seems to be that an 8K will produce a shave ready edge. The 12K is nice to have but may not be strictly necessary.

Bob

i personally use 1 - 3 - 5 - 8 and it seems to work well.

but ive also heard very good things about the 2k. seemed a little too close to the 1k which is why i ultimately opted for the 3.

I'm wondering if maybe ou should send them out, get the whole shaving thing figured out and then start honing. Also a full set of hones is quite a bit of moola if you only have a couple of razors. Unless you are planning non restoring razors, buying hones does not make economic sense. http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...wcat.php?cat=4

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Originally Posted by RezDog

I'm wondering if maybe ou should send them out, get the whole shaving thing figured out and then start honing. Also a full set of hones is quite a bit of moola if you only have a couple of razors. Unless you are planning non restoring razors, buying hones does not make economic sense. http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...wcat.php?cat=4

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Making a hobby out of shaving doesn't make economic sense either but it's fun. :)

Personally, I started honing at the same time I started shaving. One doesn't really have anything to do with the other in my opinion.

Sure, if someone doesn't want to hone then it makes sense to send it out and not buy hones but there are also inexpensive ways to acquire hones and I'm guessing that most people posting and reading here hone because they want to hone.

You might want to post some pics of your razors, to make sure they are worth investing in hones, to learn to hone on. Sounds like you are new to the game.

A 1, 3,or 4, 8k progression is good to start, a 12k is nice and 2 k is not needed unless you are doing a lot of honing.