Thread: Greetings from a Londoner

Thanks for the reply -- I'm currently googling your suggestions while at work...

Ideally I'd like to learn to do both, though I'll probably start with touching up first and progress from there. At least then I can keep my razor(s) sharp.

What is the recommended grit for each task though? What I mean is what's the difference between setting a bevel with a 1k/6k stone and a 4k/8k stone...and which is better? Similarly, how high is a high-grit stone for touching up?

Of course, feel free to link me to any relevant threads in the right sub forum -- I know I've kind of just dived right in here!

As I understand it, you can divide the process into three tasks:

Setting a bevel (so that the planes on each side of the edge meet to form the cutting edge). This is usually done with a stone of grit 220 to 4000, depending on the condition of the razor. 1k seems to be popular unless the razor has chips to the edge.

Sharpening the edge - 4k, 6k, 8k range.

Final polishing/touching up - 8k+. There are 10k, 12k and 16k stones out there, and the natural slates I've seen are described as 'equivalent to' 8k, 10k, sometimes 12k. I think barber hones are also in this range.

If you use a higher grits, a given job will take longer. I expect you could set a bevel using an 8k stone, but it would take forever.

If you use a lower grit than necessary, you're making more work for yourself - if you only need to refresh an edge but you go to the 1k stone, you'll have to sharpen and polish it to get it back to shaveable smoothness when a trip to an 8k or a slate would probably have done the trick.

Incidentally, I'm pretty new to this myself (honing since February), so take my advice for what it's worth. I'm currently using a King 1k/6k (bevels and sharpening respectively), a Welsh slate, and a Naniwa 12k. The problems with this set-up are in the honer not the hones.

There is a ton of info in the library (wiki), you could start here:

Beginner's_Guide_to_Honing

and

Lynn_Abrams_On_Honing

That is exactly what I've been trying to find out—thanks very much!

Hi and welcome to the SRP.

Jamie

G'Day and welcome from the Antipodes