Thread: Do I need to spend the money?

I have a Norton 4000/8000 and an old Diamond King Razor Hone Shapleigh Hardware. Will I find a difference in a razors performance if I by a Shapton 12000 hone. Is there a decernable difference in the shave with the 12000 hone?

Originally Posted by Sure Shot Rick

I have a Norton 4000/8000 and an old Diamond King Razor Hone Shapleigh Hardware. Will I find a difference in a razors performance if I by a Shapton 12000 hone. Is there a decernable difference in the shave with the 12000 hone?

Don't know about the Shapton, but I can tell you from experience that taking my razors to a Coticule or Escher (thanks Tony) following the 8K...and before a 0.5 micron pasted strop, improves the razor edge remarkably.

Just another data point,
Ed

I agree with Ed on this one. But you can get the same with a four sided pasted strop from Tony Miller. I have a 12k stone but don't use it too often since I got the paddle strop from Tony.

Lots of guys swear by using stones almost exclusively while other go right from Norton to pasted strops. The finer stones do make a nice step in between, those like the Eschers and Belgians mentioned. I have not used the fine synthetic stones myself thought but maybe someone who has will come along.

Tony

It always pays to keep in mind that every razor is different and I keep being taught that my usual honing routine doesn't always work equally well with each razor. Some razors repond better using the Norton 4K and then the 8K and some better with the blue belgian and some do better with the yellow coticule and some with the 12K Kitayama. I don't doubt some would respond better with a pasted strop. So the moral of the story is if you have alot of razors you want different honing mediums in your arsenal so you can find the best materials and routines best suited to each individual razor.

Before you buy anything more just use what you already have.
Develop your skill's and see what the results are. The Norton 8K is more than adequate and may be just what you want.
Most of the old timers did not have a stone with this fine of a grit. As an example, of the old Barber hones that I have approx 25% or more are coarser than the Norton 8K.

Originally Posted by ForestryProf

Don't know about the Shapton, but I can tell you from experience that taking my razors to a Coticule or Escher (thanks Tony) following the 8K...and before a 0.5 micron pasted strop, improves the razor edge remarkably.

Just another data point,
Ed

am I getting this right now Prof....after the 8K and Coticule / Escher you go to a 0.5 micron pasted strop?
Im still honing like crazy and finding the best ways to get a great edge so if this is the case then I might try it, if not let me know the correct combo you use..

Many thanks, simon

Originally Posted by coully

am I getting this right now Prof....after the 8K and Coticule / Escher you go to a 0.5 micron pasted strop?
Im still honing like crazy and finding the best ways to get a great edge so if this is the case then I might try it, if not let me know the correct combo you use..

Many thanks, simon

You got it...others may have a very different approach. Assuming the razor bevel is in good shape and I've determined its sharp enought to come off of the 4K or 4K/8K pyramid, then it's an 8K/Coticule pyramid (typically 3 sets of 3/10) then on to the 0.5 micron pasted strop. After that it's time for a test shave. The Coticule and Escher are (in my experience) interchangable...very similar results).

BTW, I've recently purchased 0.5 and 0.25 diamond paste and am making a 2 sided balsa paddle. I'll then decide whether I will stick with my Chromium oxide pasted strop (0.5 micron) or switch to the diamond pastes...or maybe keep both .

Just another data point,
Ed

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Before you buy anything more just use what you already have.
Develop your skill's and see what the results are. The Norton 8K is more than adequate and may be just what you want.
Most of the old timers did not have a stone with this fine of a grit. As an example, of the old Barber hones that I have approx 25% or more are coarser than the Norton 8K.

Randy as always you make me chuckle with the use of old timers...lol...do we straight razor shavers ever get old?

chuckles,simon

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Before you buy anything more just use what you already have.
Develop your skill's and see what the results are. The Norton 8K is more than adequate and may be just what you want.
Most of the old timers did not have a stone with this fine of a grit. As an example, of the old Barber hones that I have approx 25% or more are coarser than the Norton 8K.

I'm in agreement with Randy. I was shocked to see some of the abrasives from old shaving kits. I got one stone off e-bay (with a razor) that looks like something I would touch up an axe with. I haven't been brave enough to use that on a razor, but it does emphasize that what is required to "get the job done" is far less than what most of us already have. Probably for most of us (me most of all) the limiting factor on getting a good edge is my skill with the hone and not grit size.

Of course, if it is a hobby to continually refine the edge and one enjoys doing it, then go for it. Who knows, with the development of nanotechnology, one day we may find ourselves passing many pleasant and peaceful weeks with our razors and our 8M Norton stones.