Thread: First set of hones

Ok, so after a couple months of shaving with a straight (honed by Lynn), I'm not getting adequate performance. I'd like to be able to maintain my razor on my own, and am ready to buy some hones. I was thinking about starting with naniwa or shapton, and going with something like 5k/10k.

Does that seem like a good place to start? I take good care of the blade, it was bought new, and honed by Lynn, so I'm really just trying to keep it sharp, not repair it. Any other advice or suggestions?

Naniwa makes what I believe is a 5/8k stone. that would work very well, but you might try to just touch it up with a finisher. If it were me I would get the 12k naniwa, it is one of my favorites.

Ok, now I'm no expert, but I do love a great, sharp edge. I think your on the right track, but with everything I have read and viewed (video's) I think you could do well with a Norton 4/8k and a DMT.

Just to touch up your razors, I can only advise what has worked for me. I have a few barbers hones, one of which is a Frictionite #00, a swaty and a Niagara. By following what Glenn (gssixgun) has posted up on Youtube.com, you can see how easy it is to refresh an edge. I also have 2 paddle strops I got from star shaving that has CrOx on one (balsa) and Diamond spray on another (felt).

I can, what seems like anyway, maintain my edges for a very long time with just my barbers hones and my paddle strops. In six months I have yet to have a razor I use re-honed.

Almost any task, it appears to me anyway, can be accomplished with the Norton 4/8k. There are many videos available that show how you can not only refresh a blade with this single stone, but actually it is the only stone required to set a bevel right thru to shave ready.

I also have purchased a PHIG (Peoples hone of indeterminate grit) which they sometimes call the C12k (chinese 12k). I have successfully managed to polish and refresh my edges with that alone as well.

I guess there are many options to maintaining your razors, but you don't have to spend a fortune to do it.

I hope this helps you think about a few options....

Happy shaving mate!!

Mike

So, I was on the checkout page of a website, and was about to buy a Naniwa 12k stone and a paddle strop, when I remembered that I had some sort of paste that came with my straight razor. I found the paste, and it was a Thiers Issard sharpening paste, as found on www.classicshaving.com. My razor wasn't passing the HHT, but I spread a healthy amount of my paste on the back of my leather hanging strop, and gave it a good 50-60 passes. I then went through my normal stropping routine, and my razor passed the HHT with what seem like flying colors (I'm still new to this). I found information online that suggested that this type of paste shoud deliver similar results to a 10k stone, but I'm skepticle. I shaved some hair off of my forearm quite easily, but the shave test will tell the truth tomorrow morning. Does this seem like a reasonable way to get a slightly dull razor back to peak performance?

Yes, that is a perfectly good way of bringing a dull razor back to life.

Thanks Blix, I'll let the group know what the results are tomorrow.

I tried shaving for the first time this morning since I stropped with the paste that I mentioned above, and the results were great. The razor was significantly sharper, and gave a very close and comfortable shave. I was quite surprised at the difference actually, and I'm glad I tried this method before spending a bunch of money on hones. I still see some Naniwa stones in my future, but will definitely start using the strop with sharpening paste on a more regular basis to keep my edge in good shape.

There was a good thread on pasted strops here : http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...xperiment.html

You should consider a lot less strokes if you adopt a regular maintenance plan eg once weekly

Thanks for posting that link. I did some reading, and it sounds like a pasted strop can either bring an edge to life, or do some damage if the wrong technique is used. The first time I used a pasted strop, the result was fantastic. I used it again, and the edge now can't pass the HHT. I keep stropping, then testing, then stropping, then testing, and I can't get back to a sharp edge.

Any suggestions? Is this due to stropping technique? Should I just send the razor in to be honed? I stropped successfully for almost two months, so I'm a little confused/surprised that I seem to have taken a step back. Is this likely to be related to using a paste for the first time?

I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

Originally Posted by SFshaver

Thanks for posting that link. I did some reading, and it sounds like a pasted strop can either bring an edge to life, or do some damage if the wrong technique is used. The first time I used a pasted strop, the result was fantastic. I used it again, and the edge now can't pass the HHT. I keep stropping, then testing, then stropping, then testing, and I can't get back to a sharp edge.

Any suggestions? Is this due to stropping technique? Should I just send the razor in to be honed? I stropped successfully for almost two months, so I'm a little confused/surprised that I seem to have taken a step back. Is this likely to be related to using a paste for the first time?

I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

One could assume it is a problem with stropping technique &/or excessive use of the abrasive paste compounding the results. Sounds like your razor may benefit from some stone work. Once properly honed lighten up on the paste use in frequency, no. of laps & maybe pressure as well.
You now have some guidelines from that thread so the rest is in your hands