Thread: Is the 8k Norton fine enough for a touch-up?

Hi everyone,

I have been shaving with a straight razor for some 2 months now. The razor is Dovo and was delivered shave ready, well honed. So far so good, the edge is still sharp enough for me to get a reasonably comfortable shave. However, I would like to prepare for the necessity of touching it up a little when it looses some of its keenness.
My question: is the Norton 8k fine enough for this job? Or, would a barber's hone, or one of the very fine (10 or 12k) wet stones be needed?

Cheers,
Marek

Welcome to SRP. IMO the norton 8k would be fine enough but something like a naniwa 12k would be even better. A barber hone would be adequate if you get a good one. They don't make them anymore so you'd need to find a vintage one. Easy enough on ebay but they are not all created equal. The naniwa 12k that I mentioned is a more versatile tool and would compliment your norton 4/8 in a honing progression as well as being fine for touching up your razor. See the SRP Wiki here for more on all things related to straight razor shaving.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Going beyond a touch-up, I was wondering if a comparable result (for the same level of skill) can be achieved using the following two combinations:
a) 4k Norton=>8k Norton=>12k Naniwa
b) Yellow Belgian coticule with slurry=> same stone dry (or alternatively, using the Belgian blue wet stone).

Apparently, both the yellow coticule and blue wet stone are available from manufacturer in Belgium, and can be purchused new for a sensible price in the UK. I am in the process of figuring out a most reasonable option in financial and practical terms. Will appreciate any hints.

Thanks,
M

Originally Posted by delasttokharian

Thanks for the quick reply.

Going beyond a touch-up, I was wondering if a comparable result (for the same level of skill) can be achieved using the following two combinations:
a) 4k Norton=>8k Norton=>12k Naniwa
b) Yellow Belgian coticule with slurry=> same stone dry (or alternatively, using the Belgian blue wet stone).

Apparently, both the yellow coticule and blue wet stone are available from manufacturer in Belgium, and can be purchused new for a sensible price in the UK. I am in the process of figuring out a most reasonable option in financial and practical terms. Will appreciate any hints.

Thanks,
M

If it was me I would want to have option (a) to begin with and option (b) as an alternative or adjunct. The synthetics are easier to learn IMO and give consistent results once you get to know them. Not that the bbw/yellow coticule isn't consistent but I think it requires more work to get to the same result. OTOH, if you have the 4/8 and follow with the coticule it will leave a nice finish. Not as fine as the 12k IME but plenty nice to shave with.

This is just my opinion and I'm sure others will have their own experience to share and it may be different from mine. If you order a coticule from Ardennes make sure to tell Rob that you specifically want it for honing razors. Some are more suited to that while others are more for tools. Rob is a nice fellow and has posted on this forum suggesting that folks let him know that they want the hone for using on razors.

I have not seen the norton 4/8 combo sold in many places in UK. I know the nawinas are sold in couple which you can also get in all sizes.
the couticle is a good hone also and very versatile but takes a bit of getting use to with the slurry water ratio in diffrent stages of the edge(or so i have heared sure someone that uses both will help a bit more)

Hi,

I think it possible to get a shaver from 8K but you will get better edge if going to higher grits.
I have both cheap Chinese 12K and barber hone. I use Chinese as a last stone when sharpening edges from dull to sharp. First with slurry then dry.
I use my barber hone as a touch up for razors that has lost their edges.

Originally Posted by pedro083

I have not seen the norton 4/8 combo sold in many places in UK. I know the nawinas are sold in couple which you can also get in all sizes.
the couticle is a good hone also and very versatile but takes a bit of getting use to with the slurry water ratio in diffrent stages of the edge(or so i have heared sure someone that uses both will help a bit more)

The naniwa superstones are great hones IME. I use them most of the time. The nortons are real good too. There are things I like better about one or the other brand but overall the naniwas have come out on top for me.

Originally Posted by pedro083

I have not seen the norton 4/8 combo sold in many places in UK. I know the nawinas are sold in couple which you can also get in all sizes.
the couticle is a good hone also and very versatile but takes a bit of getting use to with the slurry water ratio in diffrent stages of the edge(or so i have heared sure someone that uses both will help a bit more)

You can find Nortons at least from John Lloyd.