Thread: Honing where it hurts

Hello all,

I'm new to straight shaving and want to buy hones. I don't know what to buy as a newbie. I'm torned between:

Option A: Norco 4000/8000, DMT coarse (to lap)
Option B: Belgian 4000, Belgian 8000, DMT coarse (to lap)
Option C: DMT extra extra fine

And chromium oxide for the finish which is the only thing I'm sure of.

So I don't know which road to take, and all I want is to hone my razor, I was wondering what would be the best for my newbie skills?

Thanks to all

Hi, and welcome to SRP.
There's actually a recent thread still going on about this issue: http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=21838
As you'll read, it's not a question with one easy answer.

Best regards,

Bart.

If starting fresh I'd get a DMT E (1,000), DMT EE (8,000), and chrome oxide and/or barber hones. Add a newspaper.The barber hones will probably need lapping.

The DMT D8C coarse could do the lapping. It is also excellent for all of your household knives.

After some experimenting with a dozen or so hones, I get by fine with only the above (rarely using the oxide).

All three of your choices look usable. The Belgians are preferred by many. Some think the chrome oxide doesn't have a durable enough edge. There's no easy answer and preference has a lot to do with it.

I'd vote for option A, its my preference, and the one with the most skilled adherents.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I'd vote for option A, its my preference, and the one with the most skilled adherents.

With all due respect sir, that sounds denigrating in my ears.
I think "skill" has very little do do with someones preference for one hone or another.

Originally Posted by Verminisjk

Hello all,

I'm new to straight shaving and want to buy hones. I don't know what to buy as a newbie. I'm torned between:

Option A: Norco 4000/8000, DMT coarse (to lap)
Option B: Belgian 4000, Belgian 8000, DMT coarse (to lap)
Option C: DMT extra extra fine

And chromium oxide for the finish which is the only thing I'm sure of.

So I don't know which road to take, and all I want is to hone my razor, I was wondering what would be the best for my newbie skills?

Thanks to all

If you are new at this and want to get your feet wet with the lowest cost I would pick "C". I went a step further and went the paddle route down to 0.25 paste so that I could obtain some level of skill and purchase wisely when HAD set in.



Later,
R

Originally Posted by Bart

With all due respect sir, that sounds denigrating in my ears.
I think "skill" has very little do do with someones preference for one hone or another.

Sorry I meant to say on Skilled adherents on this board implying that there is the most advice and guidance to be had when using this setup, I didn't complete my thought. again I didn't mean anything by it. I offend often enough deliberately I don't need to accidentally

Originally Posted by riooso

If you are new at this and want to get your feet wet with the lowest cost I would pick "C". I went a step further and went the paddle route down to 0.25 paste so that I could obtain some level of skill and purchase wisely when HAD set in.



Later,
R

Thanks, It was actually my favorite one because of the lower cost, but I could have small belgians hones for less than that, but I'm unsure if it's a good Idea to purchase really small hones

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Sorry I meant to say on Skilled adherents on this board implying that there is the most advice and guidance to be had when using this setup, I didn't complete my thought. again I didn't mean anything by it. I offend often enough deliberately I don't need to accidentally

Wildtim, I can see now how one can read your sentence in two different ways. I was a little touchy this morning. You're right about the Nortons being the most popular hone on SRP, so there's a lot of expertise on that hone.

Excuse me for being blunt to you.

Bart.

I like option "A" as well. This has served many people well. A lot of support with this as well. The best advice I can give with the norton is GET THE DMT C.
The DMT laped hone made all of the difference in the world to me. I was one of those lap on sand paper and glass guys but now feel the norton should come with a DMT plate.