Thread: possible to maintain a razor on 12k indefinitely?

So I'm just getting started with honing after a bit of RAD. I purchased the whippeddog 1/4 cut Norton stones first which are quite difficult to use. I was able to get a decent enough edge to shave on, but nothing like i had gotten from razors which i had bought from other members. The best of these I was told was last touched up on a Naniwa 12k when i bought it. So i found a set of 8k/12k Naniwa's for sale in the B/S/T and I went for it figuring i could make due with my 1/4 Norton in lower grits for a little while. I plan on getting the 1k/5k Naniwa's eventually for a complete honing range. My question is once a razor has a well set bevel is it possible to keep it up to shave readiness with a 12k honing stone indefinitely ? Maybe using the 8k>12k if you let it go too long? Or will you always/should reset the bevel at some point?

Originally Posted by Cashn

So I'm just getting started with honing after a bit of RAD. I purchased the whippeddog 1/4 cut Norton stones first which are quite difficult to use. I was able to get a decent enough edge to shave on, but nothing like i had gotten from razors which i had bought from other members. The best of these I was told was last touched up on a Naniwa 12k when i bought it. So i found a set of 8k/12k Naniwa's for sale in the B/S/T and I went for it figuring i could make due with my 1/4 Norton in lower grits for a little while. I plan on getting the 1k/5k Naniwa's eventually for a complete honing range. My question is once a razor has a well set bevel is it possible to keep it up to shave readiness with a 12k honing stone indefinitely ? Maybe using the 8k>12k if you let it go too long? Or will you always/should reset the bevel at some point?

The question is " What would mess up a bevel ? " Drop it, chip it, let it rust out, beat it up with a strop, over hone it. Buy one off e-Bay. If you have a good bevel and take care of it, it should last a long time with a strop. You can get a good shave off a 4/8k and a little better off the 12k. I think the rule is...You work your way down in grits. If you can't get it to shave at the 4k level having dropped down from 12k then you need to reset the bevel. The time frame depends on you and what you do to your razor or what you may acquire .

Originally Posted by 10Pups

The question is " What would mess up a bevel ? " Drop it, chip it, let it rust out, beat it up with a strop, over hone it. Buy one off e-Bay. If you have a good bevel and take care of it, it should last a long time with a strop. You can get a good shave off a 4/8k and a little better off the 12k. I think the rule is...You work your way down in grits. If you can't get it to shave at the 4k level having dropped down from 12k then you need to reset the bevel. The time frame depends on you and what you do to your razor or what you may acquire .

Understandable and I know this is a high variable question. Mainly was wondering because while I have recently purchased more razors than I need, I have found what I like and would be content with keeping 3 or 4 in rotation. Was mainly wondering under best conditions for a razor to be in, if it was possible to just "touch it up" it up every now and then. Barring any chips/rolling the edge/honing mistakes. Mostly meant this towards razors you own and use regularly. New razors one obtains I have come to understand are a beast within itself. thank you for your reply.

Cashn, The answer to your first question is, "yes."

I think the answer is "yes" but not forever. Eventually, finishing will degrade the structure of the bevel. If one hones really well, this will take months to happen, but any honing mistakes, bad strokes, will hasten the process.

?! You can never have too many razors! It's like saying there's too many stars!

Yes I, can maintain a razor at shave ready with a Naniwa 12k for a lifetime..

As long as you don't damage the edge and you are careful not to let the edge deteriorate past a certain point I imagine you could keep it going with a 12k.

Cashn

The answer is yes… unfortunately, if you know how. And that is the mistake new honers make. Those that have already learned the honing skill can get an edge off most hones, because they know what to look for, to solve problems and how it should feel. Much of honing is problem solving.

If you don’t have that sill set yet… maybe.

For example, how do you know if it’s sharp? Use the thumb pad test, if it feels sharp, it’s sharp. But you say, “What does sharp feel like?”

That is the problem, and that is why the answer is usually, buy a set of good synthetic stones and develop the skills to properly hone. In other words, hone razors, there are no short cuts.

So, it sounds like you are now on the right track, getting a set of full size synthetic stones and keep honing. You can’t go wrong with the 12K, then you have to learn how to squeak out the maximum performance from it.

You can hone on small stones, (get sharp) but a full size stone allows you to do full laps and get the smoothness out of each grit, squeeze the maximum sharpness and polished edge from each stone.

This year will mark my 5th year of shaving with straight razors, and I've yet to reset a bevel on any of my previously shave ready blades. FWIW I uses finishing stones and sometimes pastes for touch ups. So IMO I'm leaning towards the Yes side.