Thread: Grit...?

If you don't already know.. how do you tell what grit your hone is? I offer two of mine for example.. one (with the orange caps) is a synthetic for knives and such, the other was a purchase from a hardware store aeons ago and it is two-sided (like the force... and duct tape, it has a dark and a light side).

Speaking from first hand experience just stay away from the dual grit stone. It is far to coarse for a razor.

Next, most knife stones are also to coarse.

OK, let the comments fly!

Actually, I've used both ...and a strop after with success. I'd like to start doing it the "right" way but I lack the $$$ to get a nice norton.

I've never found a stone that is more than 1k grit in a hardware store, so more than likely that is the limit for your dual sider (which is too coarse for anything other than bevel setting). Looks like one of mine that is 120/325 grit.

The other is not likely more than 4k grit since knives generally don't benefit from anything higher. But in all actuality it is probably much lower (600 to 1k) because if it were 4k, the manufacturer would want you to know it (then they could charge a lot more for it).

At best, they aren't enough to give a good shaving edge. At worst, they could be destructive to your razor and future honing endeavors.

Originally Posted by Cyclophile

Actually, I've used both ...and a strop after with success. I'd like to start doing it the "right" way but I lack the $$$ to get a nice norton.

You are lucky as hell!!!

Neither hone is one that I would allow to touch my razors.

Look up slip stones. you can get a 4000 and an 8000 grit waterstone at $30 for both. And not risk your razors, plus I'd imagine you would get a better shave.

Originally Posted by Cyclophile

Actually, I've used both ...and a strop after with success. I'd like to start doing it the "right" way but I lack the $$$ to get a nice norton.

Wow! Your skin must be totally lacking nerve endings! Either that or the term "leather face" may soon apply.

Seriously, the slip stones are a relatively inexpensive alternative as is sandpaper and lapping film.

Truly.. I've not had any problems.. in fact I spent a few hours with my T.Hessen on the little knife hone, followed by about 40 passes on my horsehide strop.. I achieved a one-pass BBS on my face this morning and the same for my head.. though I am still mastering the art of head shaving. I usually don't slice on the first pass... all my filets...err...nicks occur when I go back to touch up on problem spots.

Now... I just picked one of these up:
SUN TIGER DELUXE SHARPENING STONE - 4000 GRIT - eBay (item 140240401745 end time Jul-10-08 14:19:04 PDT)

Will that work? The shape is rather strange, do you somehow work on the flat side or on the curved?

I know some members of Nassrasur who use the SunTiger as polishing hone. After the 4 K you could go on to the coticule, an 8K hone or a barber hone. Barber hones are relatively cheap. Swatys are generally liked but other barber hones should do the trick as well. Barber hones aren't expensive on ebay (or on BST forum).

OTOH if you get BBS shaves off a 4K hone why look further?

Originally Posted by Cyclophile

Truly.. I've not had any problems.. in fact I spent a few hours with my T.Hessen on the little knife hone, followed by about 40 passes on my horsehide strop.. I achieved a one-pass BBS on my face this morning and the same for my head.. though I am still mastering the art of head shaving. I usually don't slice on the first pass... all my filets...err...nicks occur when I go back to touch up on problem spots.

Now... I just picked one of these up:
SUN TIGER DELUXE SHARPENING STONE - 4000 GRIT - eBay (item 140240401745 end time Jul-10-08 14:19:04 PDT)

Will that work? The shape is rather strange, do you somehow work on the flat side or on the curved?

Well... I am made of leather.. heh.. Thanks everyone.. Now I just need to figure out how to sharpen my knives.. Keeping consistent angles on a razors is one thing but my knife is a completely different matter. Grrrr...

Use th flat side of the hone.