Thread: refreshing a razor with the hone

if you have a razor that is not shaving as well as it did initially and you need to take it to the hone do you automatically go back to the 4k or lower or start with something higher grit?

I have a razor that i have been keeping up with a pasted strop but it is not as keen as it was, it still passes the HHT but i think it could stand hitting the hone again. Should i start with 4k, 8k, or coticule?

The general rule of thumb is to use the finest stone you need to use and the fewest passes you have to use. In general if i'm refreshing a razor I use the yellow coticule, thats all thats necessary. In your case the Norton 8K is where I'd start. The 4K is only for a major overhaul of the edge if its really not cutting.

Originally Posted by trapperjohnme

if you have a razor that is not shaving as well as it did initially and you need to take it to the hone do you automatically go back to the 4k or lower or start with something higher grit?

I believe this is well answered ...

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The general rule of thumb is to use the finest stone you need to use and the fewest passes you have to use. In general if i'm refreshing a razor I use the yellow coticule, thats all thats necessary.

A 12,000 stone or ultra fine pastes can achieve the same result. Oh look !

Originally Posted by trapperjohnme

I have a razor that i have been keeping up with a pasted strop but it is not as keen as it was, it still passes the HHT but i think it could stand hitting the hone again. Should i start with 4k, 8k, or coticule?

HHT is only telling off the 8k. Every other time, like coming off a strop pasted or not, is just shooting fish in a barrel.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

In your case the Norton 8K is where I'd start. The 4K is only for a major overhaul of the edge if its really not cutting.

I'm going to disagree with that. Not that you shouldn't maybe try a few hits on the 8k first, but since you have already been going to the pastes to keep her in trim, you might find a small pyramid going up to no more than 5 passes on the 4k more productive. I find a durable, comfortable, effective edge is properly built up from there. Try the 8k first just to be sure. It is after all a learning process.

X

A suggestion...save frustration ! send your razor to lynn to be rehoned when 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 ...put the hone in the drawer with the paste so the paste wont be alone...master the basic tech of shaving and stroping then learn to hone and use paste if you must...touch up honing on 8000 or codicule is better and easier then using paste once you learn to hone... I would guess that poor stroping tech for example too much pressure with a pasted strop destroyed your edge and your lack of honing skills which is understandable will make it very difficult to get the edge back...

Oh boy ... yes if its passing the HHT I'd start with a 8K or a barber hone, which would be perfect and not cost $150 and not be an issue for you on another thread like say, a Coticule.

If your looking for an update hone, look at barber hones. There better, sell the Coticule and get a razor AND a barber hone!

Then again some more effective stropping will keep it shaving nicely.

I agree with this for most part.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The general rule of thumb is to use the finest stone you need to use and the fewest passes you have to use. In general if i'm refreshing a razor I use the yellow coticule, thats all thats necessary. In your case the Norton 8K is where I'd start. The 4K is only for a major overhaul of the edge if its really not cutting.

I agree that 3-5 passes on the Norton 8K or a Barber Hone would be a great place to start. I don't like working with Barber Hones as they tend to be inconsistent and size wise harder to use. If that doesn't work, then a couple of 1-3's on the Norton 4K/8K usually will do the trick. Lynn

thanks, ill start out using the 8k, thus far i have always started using the 4k in a pyramid.

I have to agre with Lynn on the barber hone thing. I ave nearly 30 of them, all different types but find they are harder to use for me as wll. There are a few I like and mnay I have not tried but do feel I can set up a better motion, with more consistant results on a longer stone.

Tony

Just practice is all. Great for travel though.