Thread: What's the right hone to start with?

I've been reading about Norton or Shapton wetstones (preferrably 4000/8000), and barber hones. I've got a blade I'd like to start practicing on, and need to purchase soon.

I'm not so much concerned with price as I am with what will achieve the desired edge - but achieve it in the right way.

Any words of advice? Thanks.

Originally Posted by Incurve

I've been reading about Norton or Shapton wetstones (preferrably 4000/8000), and barber hones. I've got a blade I'd like to start practicing on, and need to purchase soon.

I'm not so much concerned with price as I am with what will achieve the desired edge - but achieve it in the right way.

Any words of advice? Thanks.

Barber hones of the Swaty tradition (those roughly 2"x4" reddish ones with a brand stamp on the front) are good once a razor is keen and just needs a light touchup. The Norton 4k/8k will bring a dull razor to keen and keep it that way very quickly. Unless it's dropped, one Norton will last a typical user a lifetime, with reasonable care. It is now the standard to which all other razor sharpeners are compared.

uthed,

Do you own a waterstone 4k/8k yourself? If so, are you pleased?

Also, is this a table top hone that needs a 'stand', or a handheld stone?

Lastly, can you recommend a place to buy all that is needed for these honing needs? Thanks!

Originally Posted by Incurve

uthed,

Do you own a waterstone 4k/8k yourself? If so, are you pleased?

Also, is this a table top hone that needs a 'stand', or a handheld stone?

Lastly, can you recommend a place to buy all that is needed for these honing needs? Thanks!

I have a full set of bench sized Arkansas stones, as well as a number of grades of ceramic sharpeners. But unless I'm dealing with a special situation, I use the Norton 4k/8k to keen razors.

I've found the most comfortable position for me is to balance the hone on my upper leg atop a folded terry towel. This produces the least strain on my shoulder muscles and lets me apply even pressure with both strokes in a cycle without unnatural twisting of my forearm. The towel will catch drips from the waterstone and is a convenience when it's time to wipe the slurry off the edges when flipping to the other side of the stone.

I am sure you can google up a site that may be a couple of dollars cheaper, but ClassicShaving.com is owned and operated by one of the forum members and is legendary for it's attention to detail and customer service. If anything goes wrong, they will make it right, pronto. My suggestion is to pay a few dollars more and opt for the 3" wide 4k/8k Norton. It's a little easier to hone and backhone on a stone as wide as the edge of a standard razor, even though we talk about honing at an angle and X-patterns and such.

Welcome Incurve! You have found the best website there is for straight razor users.
David is one of the Guru's and the advice he has given you is spot on.
It is hard to believe how effective the 3" Norton is for straight razors but it works.
While you are ordering the 4000/8000 combo you should also order the 1000 Norton so you can easily restore an edge on a dusty rusty Ebay razor.

There is a lot of other stuff you can get to further refine the edge but the above hones will do the job very nicely.

Kepp us posted on how things go for you,

As a quazi novice I have been using the Norton 4k/8k and in most cases I can get my razors sharp with it. I don't know if it's the best but I like it.

RichZ in NYC

The belgian coticule is also a very nice stone for sharpening razors, but costs twice as much as the Norton for the same size stone (8 x 3), which is the recommended size. You also have a bit more versatility with the Norton as you have 2 different grit sizes, so sharpening is faster. Both will do an equal job when it comes to sharpening a razor. I prefer to sharpen on a table top, others prefer to use their thigh or hold the stone in their hand. All will work.

I use classic barber hones; a pair of barber hones, one medium and one fine grit will cost you less than either the Norton combo or the pricey Belgian coticule. The main advantage to using the Norton is that many people at this forum use them and so you can get lots of help while learning. Fewer people use the Belgians, fine hones that they are. If you decide to use classic barber hones you'll be more or less on your own, at least at this forum. However, none of these hones will give you a short cut to mastery. What is needed far more than any type of hone you choose, is patience, determination and lots of practice. Only these will guarantee success and the pleasures that this craft can bestow.

Hal