Thread: Need some advice

As a newcomer to the straight shaving world, I don't know much about anything, particularly honing. And being a college student, I don't have the funds to pick up a nice costly hone. While I have enough shave ready blades to last me quite a while, I may be interested in acquiring at least a basic hone for maintaining my edges.

So what I am asking of you all is: Suggestions? Anything you would recommend for someone looking for a basic barbers hone style stone? And just as importantly, what should be avoided at all costs?

Thanks
Drew

Absolute cheapest option... $4 CrO from ChrisL and $2 piece of balsa from hobby shop.

Add a barber hone to that mix and you have a nice setup to maintain your shave ready razors.

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

As a newcomer to the straight shaving world, I don't know much about anything, particularly honing. And being a college student, I don't have the funds to pick up a nice costly hone. While I have enough shave ready blades to last me quite a while, I may be interested in acquiring at least a basic hone for maintaining my edges.

So what I am asking of you all is: Suggestions? Anything you would recommend for someone looking for a basic barbers hone style stone? And just as importantly, what should be avoided at all costs?

Thanks
Drew

+1 on Slart's post. Get the CrOx, and a piece of balsa from a hobby shop (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, whatever is in your area). Pick the width you feel comfortable with. I think the one I got was 3" wide.

Then I went to Lowe's and picked up a small bottle (the one with the brush in the lid) of DAP Contact Cement, which I plan on using in Making a linen strop out of denim - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

While I was at Lowe's, I asked the guy at the paint desk for a couple paint stirs (FREE).

Cut the balsa to the length I wanted, smeared contact cement on the concave side of the paint stir, and set the balsa on it and let it dry.

Lightly lapped the balsa with sandpaper to make it flat. I didn't draw grid lines on the balsa since it is very soft, the pencil would likely have make grooves in the wood. Just lap it until you feel it's flat enough.

Then I took some of the CrOx (I used the semi-paste from HandAmerican) and using the side of a credit card or ID, smear the paste over the balsa til well covered.

You can trim the paint stir to the length of the balsa if you want. And presto, you have a cheap, effective, pasted balsa strop with a handle to hold onto it Pretty much like Backpacker's HERE but I used the paint stir instead of the stair spindle since I didn't really have a way to cut it to size and in half.

+1 to the above. I would add that if you have the extra $ the Norton 4/8 is mighty good value for the money. If you saw Tim Zowada's recent post on the Hart razor it is worth noting that under his supervision those are honed with the Norton before being finished with the Escher. I imagine he does his high end Damascus blades with the same routine.

While barber hones are great for touching up IMO there is more value for the money in a 4/8. You can hone a razor from start to finish and get a great shave off the 8k by itself or put icing on the cake with the chrom ox or diamond paste on balsa.

Hell, you can have my CrOx balsa - my wife says it's too ugly to keep.