Thread: refreshing a razor with the hone

Alan,
I am sure if I spent more time with the barber hones I would enjoy them just as much.

No tool mentioned is superior to the others, especially if one has not learned how to use it. An experienced guy with a barber hone could out hone a newbie with a Norton any day. Just substitute any two tools in mylast comment and it would still ring true. It is the learning to use the tool, the experience, that makes one better than the other.

Lynn is our all around expert because he has used all of the tools to great length and know their limitations. He could probably out hone anyone here on a Norton. I could probably out hone anyone on a paddle as it is my tool of choice. Maybe Hal on a Barber hone, etc..... You have your favorites, developed over time as well.

My suggestion, pick an easy to use choice and master it. Then try a few others and form your own opinion at that point based on what works for YOU, not what some other guy said or heard or wished.

My Rabbi friend is a good example. he buyer endless stones, experimenting and learning with each.... Belgians, Eschers, Nortons, Japanese, etc..... he s open to new things and bases his opinion on what he has learned. His favortie may not work for me at all. We have experienced honers here who are getting nowhere with Belgians, yet other guys swear by them.

Experience is the key.

Tony

The philosophy I use is to use the least aggressive method possible.

In your case I would try 5 laps on the Norton 8000 and then test your edge. If not satisfied then try 5 more. Still not good enough? Try 1/3,1/3,1/3 and test again. Need more? try 5 more laps on the 8000 stone and test. Still lacking do the 1/3 series again. Need still more? Try 3/5,3/5,1/3,1/3,1/3 and test. You get the idea.

suggestion...save frustration ! send your razor to lynn to be rehoned

maybe i am just dense but please explain how that course of action will improve my honing skills.

you get it back put the strop with paste in the drawer and leave it there until you can maintain the edge on your razor with reg stroping

please tell me the secret to keeping a razor sharp indefinately via regular stropping. i guess I was missled into believing that eventually with use every razor will need to be sharpened either via paste or a hone.

Its my suggestion to have lynn rehone your razor...after getting it back you should get at least45-60-90 shaves out of it with regular stroping during which you will have mastered stroping and shaving...then proceed with paste or honing ...

Originally Posted by clarman

after getting it back you should get at least45-60-90 shaves out of it with regular stroping

I get about 10...

Nenad

I get about the same. I hone my 2 razors together about once a month. I'm moving it up to once a week or once every two weeks just till I get to know my new coticule better.

Its my suggestion to have lynn rehone your razor...after getting it back you should get at least45-60-90 shaves out of it with regular stroping

I have not heard of any people getting 90 shaves without some sort of abrasive touchup. I think that would require a very very light beard.

It is important to point out that the results are going to vary depending on the peron and on the razor. and on who honed it. Most newbies shouldn't expect that kind of life without pastes.

Originally Posted by trapperjohnme

I think that would require a very very light beard.

Or no beard at all, just shaving skin cells for 90 shaves will dull it sooner

Sorry Tony I missed your post, or rather that it was directed at me. I don't know, I think you guys are right about the Norton. I think I got lucky with the Carborundum 103. The more barber hones I buy the more I see the variations you guys are talking about. I've found a few that aren't very good at all. I think for me the point I keep failing to make is that the reason I like them is that they are less effective. After having overhoned razor after razor on a Norton, the barber hones provided the right "crutch" for me. Just like other products did before the barber hone. I can see how, if you know what your doing that the Norton would make the most sense.

What I should have said was "If I practiced more with a Norton I think I would use it better"

I think my comment may have come across with the wrong conotation.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Alan,
I am sure if I spent more time with the barber hones I would enjoy them just as much.

My Rabbi friend is a good example. he buyer endless stones, experimenting and learning with each.... Belgians, Eschers, Nortons, Japanese, etc..... he s open to new things and bases his opinion on what he has learned. His favortie may not work for me at all. We have experienced honers here who are getting nowhere with Belgians, yet other guys swear by them.

Experience is the key.

Tony

This is cool, for me it is the opposite. If I find something that works I try to gravitate toward it, to a fault.

Alan,

What barber hones would you say are your main stays and how do you use them, Pyramid, straight progression, how many laps, wet, dry, lather, etc.

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