I need how many hones?!?!

**Bruce** · 01-14-2011, 01:30 PM

Stultsy,

You got some good advice here, but those advisors are obviously trying their best to disguise their Hone Acquisition Disorders. What they are really trying to say is that you need a dozen hones, minimum, and probably you'd best be equipped with a dozen hones from each manufacturer and quarry.

There, the truth is out.

Actually, you'd likely be well served with a Norton 4/8K combo for anything other than major edge recreation.

**mbaglio100** · 01-14-2011, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Stultstastic

...I'm new to this straight razor game and I'm interested in honing my own razors. i currently have a 1000 grit stone and a norton 4/8. My understanding is that I need one more hone around 12k. Can someone confirm that is the case?

You didn't mention it so please know that you'll need some way to flatten your stones. You can get a DMT 325 as shown in this video, or you can go to a tile store and offer them a couple of bucks for a piece of granite tile with a corner chipped off it.

With some 320 grit wet/dry sandpaper you'll be set.

This video Glen posted will show you exactly how to use a Norton 4/8K to get a usable razor shave-ready in less than 15 minutes.

At this point in time it should be about all you'll need.

YouTube - gssixgun Honing on a Norton 4-8

**str8fencer** · 01-14-2011, 05:38 PM

And here I was, thinking the answer to how many hones one really needs would be in the hundreds..

**janivar123** · 01-14-2011, 05:57 PM

You will certainly need one stone for each razor
Also make sure that you get the stone from the same country that razor was made

You already have more then enough. Dont buy anything now
Right now you have all you can possibly need
you might want to add a finisher later, but that is so much a question of taste that theres no way for you to decide anythime soon

**Bladerunner** · 01-14-2011, 07:29 PM

I see that you have not succumbed to H.A.D. so your question is valid. Will you need more than a 1,4, & 8k set of stones? Other than something to lap them with...Nope

Will you want more stones? You betcha!

Don't worry though. H,A.D. comes with a HUGE support group and there is always a meeting to help sooth your condition

Gotta love SRP.

**LawsonStone** · 01-15-2011, 03:40 AM

Originally Posted by Stultstastic

Hello All,

I'm new to this straight razor game and I'm interested in honing my own razors. i currently have a 1000 grit stone and a norton 4/8. My understanding is that I need one more hone around 12k. Can someone confirm that is the case?

Also, my razor has a factory "shave ready" edge. I'm going to get it professionally honed but I was just curious as to what hone you would start on regarding sharpening a factory shave ready razor!

Thanks,
Stultsy

In my brief but intense experience, there is no such thing as "factory shave ready." Whatever edge is on the razor from the "factory" is not going to be a shaving edge. A shaving edge on a straight really needs to be the result of hand-honing. I know the "factories" say that, but I never got a new razor with a factory edge that was a good shaver out of the box, and I don't recall anyone else who did, either.

I'd say if you want to hone from bevel to smooth shave, get yourself the 1K and 10K or 12K. Saves you time and grief. You can get splendid results with the 1K-4K-8K-12K series.

**bluemantra** · 01-15-2011, 06:44 PM

How much of a difference is the average person going to notice between a razor honed on a norton 4k/8k and finished on a pasted strop as opposed to a razor honed on a single coti?

**Disburden** · 01-15-2011, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by bluemantra

How much of a difference is the average person going to notice between a razor honed on a norton 4k/8k and finished on a pasted strop as opposed to a razor honed on a single coti?

IME the Coticule edges feel smoother off the finish on Carbon blades but not as sharp as the norton edge if the blade is tuned in well enough. It's all preference and what you like to feel on your shave. I have used just a coticule to hone from bevel to end about 100 times already and it's easy enough with practice, I still prefer a finish after on a Nakayama over the coticule finish itself. Shaving off the 8K is nice and easy if done right, I haven't even tried paste to finish off the 8K, I shaved off the 8K for months.

**Ryan82** · 01-15-2011, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

In my brief but intense experience, there is no such thing as "factory shave ready." Whatever edge is on the razor from the "factory" is not going to be a shaving edge. A shaving edge on a straight really needs to be the result of hand-honing. I know the "factories" say that, but I never got a new razor with a factory edge that was a good shaver out of the box, and I don't recall anyone else who did, either.

Although this was certainly the case in the recent past, it is no longer a hard and fast rule. There are many members, including one prominent vendor, that can say that they've shaved with a factory edge, with satisfactory results. Will it be J-nat sharp? Probably not, but still shave ready.

**bluemantra** · 01-15-2011, 07:18 PM

Sorry to jump in here, but lets say you have your razors professionally honed and refresh with pastes every so often when you need to. How long can the pastes keep a razor shave ready? And then onnce you've exhausted refreshing the razor with a pasted strop what is the next course of action? Can you take the razor to a naniwa 12k and then some Crox and your back at shave ready? Or do you need to go back down and bevel set and progress all the way again?

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