Thread: From 6000 to stropping?

I need to buy some honing stones for a straight razor.
It seems there is a lot of difference in price between 6K and 8K grits. Is 8K really necessary?
Can I go 6K -> Clean strop ?
Or 6K -> Pasted strop -> Clean strop ?

I was thinking of buying this stone:
Buy King Ice Bear 6000 Grit Waterstone at Woodcraft.com

And this paste:
Buy Green Chrome Oxide Compound, 6 oz. at Woodcraft.com
They don't provide the micron size for this paste, or I have not found it.

What would be a good stone to go before 6K ?

Thanks.

How can I correct a spelling error in the subject line?

I have the King 1000/6000 hone and a Chinese natural hone that I picked up from Woodcraft. I can reset bevels and get a razor shave ready for myself with little problems ( unless it is a wedge). If you are looking for something to just clean up the edge and not really restore the edge I would go with either a barbers hone or the Chinese natural. If you are looking to take a ebay special and get it shave ready you will want a 1000 to set the bevel and then progress from there.. after a year with the 1000/6000 I am looking to upgrade as I have found the Kings to dish pretty quickly so I have to flatten them quite often but for personal use and starting out they are not bad.

Is this the natural stone you have?
Buy Natural Water Stone, 8" x 2-3/4" x 1-1/4" at Woodcraft.com

Is this the combination 1000/6000 stone?
2000242
Is 2" wide enough for you?

I will probably only use the stone for maintenance.

I have one that is about 800 grit, I am guessing. I can probably use it to set a bevel if I ever need it.

I guess what is comes down to, can I get away with spending $35 on a 6000, or do I need to spend $80-90 on a finer stone?

I am not counting the cost of the paste as I was going to get it anyway for other projects. Would not this paste (or some other paste if this one is not adequate) be "a finisher" after 6000?

Thanks.

1k -> 6k is a pretty big jump. I am sure you can make it work with lots of experimenting.

I have never used this setup, so I have no idea what to tell you to expect.

Has anyone done 6K -> paste -> strop ?

Originally Posted by time2shave

I guess what is comes down to, can I get away with spending $35 on a 6000, or do I need to spend $80-90 on a finer stone?

I guess you could "get away" with it, but you will not get as comfortable of a shave. Remember...you normally get what you pay for. If you are just looking for a cheap way out & not wanting to learn to hone, send your razor to a honemeister in the classified's & maintain the edge on a .5 micron strop & regular strop. Glen, gssixgun, did a test that he finally tired of after six months...razor's edge was maintained that long & could potentially go on forever.

I am not counting the cost of the paste as I was going to get it anyway for other projects. Would not this paste (or some other paste if this one is not adequate) be "a finisher" after 6000?

I personally only use .5 diamond, but that is probably more of a preference thing. I've tried other stuff and find the diamond less messy and more consistent. A paste is NOT a finisher, a stone is.

Thanks.

Your welcomed!
Scott

Originally Posted by time2shave

Has anyone done 6K -> paste -> strop ?

That is a big leap! Technically you can shave off of a 4k. Ain't gonna be comfortable, won't be BBS, but it can be done.

The most basic, easiest, and consistent method (IMMHO) would be Norton 1k, 4k, 8k, Your favorite 12k and then strop.

It's all freestyle from there.

Originally Posted by time2shave

I guess what is comes down to, can I get away with spending $35 on a 6000, or do I need to spend $80-90 on a finer stone?

If money is your motivation for not getting a finishing stone, perhaps consider a chinese waterstone, they are much cheaper than this. (just checked ebay, seems you can get them for usd 24 including shipping).
I got one of those myself, it is my standard finishing hone and has served me well.