Thread: Less is more

I have been watching the threads for a while and I have noticed that people are buying all sorts of stones and I have to ask myself why. I am a big believer in the K I S S rule, keep it simple stupid. I am not trying to be offensive, far from it, I am trying to save some of you time and money.... and FRUSTRATION. There are all sorts of stones out there to fit every budget and every need wether they be synthetic or naturals, but what has caught my attention is the fact that some go out and get the "rock of the moment" just because it is hot right now.

For several years I have been an advocate of the barber hone for everyone, novice to pro to keep an edge. I understand wholly the desire to learn more and do more. Been there, done that and got the crappy T shirt. I have recently sold my non essential stones: Charnley Forest and an extra coticle or two and I am getting back to the basic necessary stones.

So what I would like to see in this thread are the true honers (experienced only) on this site to post their ideal "basic" set ups. Just the stones you need to take a vintage razor, wether from ebay or the swap meet and accomplish the following; set a bevel, polish the edge and bring it to true "shave ready" status.

My typical routine is thus: Shapton 1k, Shams unknown origin 3k blue stone, vintage coticle, vintage Thuringian(non Escher) and finally a few strokes on a home made paddle strop with Chrome ox.

So lets do some show and tell, do some story telling and see how simple this can really be. Bring out the Nortons, the naniwas, pastes and strops and what have you but keep it simple, no more than 4 stones need apply.

Have fun guys!

Thank you for this!

When I started a couple of years ago, I wanted to go a little crazy with hones, but my budget was not letting me. Even that I purchased a combo cuticle, bbw and a C12K(or PHIG, What ever you want to call it) and I wasn't happy with what I had. I then purchased a Norton 4/8 and wish I had just done that in the beginning. Now, I'm no pro and I'm learning more about honing as I go along, but I know enough to use a hone to have a shave ready razor, at least for me. I think a 4/8, as many suggest is a good start, as they're readily available and easier to learn on, at least in my opinion. After you are good on something basic like a 4/8 or as you suggest a barber hone, then you can move on to the cuticle, thuringian, or other natural stones, or on to the Shapton and other manufactured systems out there. At some point, I want to get into the natural stones, but I'm comfortable getting the most out of what I have first.

Edit: I also paid to much for a barber hone that has a lot of chips on it. I still don't use it, even though I still have it. LOL

I'll bite, just because mine also uses one of Sham's mystery stones.

Naniwa 1k
unknown blue 3k
vintage combo coti

That's all I really need, but I'll throw on a microbevel with my Shapton 30k about 25% of the time. My brother gave it to me, so I have to use it, right?

Originally Posted by Cove5440

Edit: I also paid to much for a barber hone that has a lot of chips on it. I still don't use it, even though I still have it. LOL

I think we all have one of those, its a "live and learn" world.

Originally Posted by northpaw

My brother gave it to me, so I have to use it, right?

Just throw it in the drawer and tell him "it's all good!".

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Just throw it in the drawer and tell him "it's all good!".

More like "gently place it in the drawer while holding my breath", haha. I baby the hell out of that thing.

While saving up for an 8k, I spent several months with just a King 800/4000, a barbers hone and a PHIG. I actually could do away with the PHIG and still get a nice shaving edge. Total cost of the King combo and the barbers hone was about $50.

1k Chosera
5/8/12k Shapton Pro
0.5 micron Diamond spray on felt

I have been in the process of selling most of my unneeded items ..
My basic set up is

1k C then my 150x40mm la vainette belgium coticule natural linen / leather that realy is all i need and it works for me ..I have had my time with differant stones and felt i realy needed to just get on with what works best for me .. Get some of my cash back ..My trying the latest stones out are now over ...

An excellent and timely thread IMO

I totally agree - less can be more, for sure. I also think that you should learn to use every stone you have to its full potential before considering whether you need more. But of course HAD can kill that idea.

So in that spirit I am not posting what I have or what I think would be a good set, lest it temp the Devil's HADvocate in people. But I will say that I have essentially four 4-hone setups to deal with various scenarios (and of course combinations of the 4), most, but not all, of which involve the Norton 4/8.

James.