Thread: Honing Heresy

If youve got a good barber hone and only wish to maintain a razor and not restore or repair this is the way to go.

I think it's insane for you to not invest at least a hundred dollars into your hones. Tsk tsk tsk...

Honestly though, if you enjoy the shave then no one can say you're doing it wrong. It is often mentioned that you can get a fine shave off an 8K and anything finer is just for comfort. You could step up to a coticule if you wanted but why if you're fine where you are.

Barber hones can come in differing grits, it sounds like the one you have is fine enough to give you a comfortable shave.

To answer your question, or implied question, I don't think its necessary to buy all that just to keep an edge shaving. If you started with a well made bevel, a fine barber hone and strop is all you need.

[quote=JCitron;325844]I think it's insane for you to not invest at least a hundred dollars into your hones. Tsk tsk tsk......

Barber hones can come in differing grits, it sounds like the one you have is fine enough to give you a comfortable shave.

quote]

Can someone please explain how to tell the grit of a barber hone. Can it be done with a glass? Is feel accurate? I know that the barber hones were made in many different grits. Did the barber buy a particular grit stone or did he use what ever he had at the time. I have read that in the old days many of the barber hones had the manufacturers name on the stone. Perhaps they were given to the barbers as a promo? Did the barber care what grit he was given, if that in fact was the case?

Occasionally you see posts where new guys get very excited about starting & make do with what they've got. Sandpaper honing, strop with an old belt & they claim great shaves.
We all seem to be striving for the best edge we can achieve, & buy more stones etc to get there.
trewornan, if you're happy with the shaves, then it does work. The next man may find it just doesn't.
I think we could all get by with far less than we use, but since we're nurturing our aquisition disorders we feel we need more.
Personally, i like more, but i don't think i need it.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

If youve got a good barber hone and only wish to maintain a razor and not restore or repair this is the way to go.

+1 from me too, we both have been saying this for a long time....

If you are only a shaver, you only need to maintain the edge, that's it.... and what the heck for the price of one pack of Fusion's you can have the razor honed professionally anytime you want or need....

Good luck with keeping all the AD's at bay that's what does you in

Glad I found this thread!

Just the kind of feedback I was looking for to start out.

Thanks to all.

I agree, if it is working for you no need to fix it. I like playing with all of these toys. For me the sport involves a lot more then just getting a good shave and that is alright too. Just different approaches to it. Some guys like to fish or play golf, I like to hone old razors with various rocks.

Way to go Trewornan..
K.I.S.S. principle rules !

There is a very large jump from maintaining a shave ready razor to getting a razor shave ready. Often that distinction is not made and the assumption is what you need to prepare any razor short of a major restoration.

Whatever strop will very slowly lose ground to the wear and tear of daily shaving. Every month or few a finish honing will restore the razor completely. Nothing more is needed. If you sustain any damage or unusual wear then there is a significant jump in the equipment needed.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

+1 from me too, we both have been saying this for a long time....

If you are only a shaver, you only need to maintain the edge, that's it.... and what the heck for the price of one pack of Fusion's you can have the razor honed professionally anytime you want or need....

Good luck with keeping all the AD's at bay that's what does you in

++1 on that too. Keeping a good edge is one thing, chasing the perfect edge is another entirely.

Yeah, I bought a Norton 8k, and a barber hone and got great results for several months... And then I bought another, and another, and then a coticule, and then a Nakayama and then etc.