Thread: Suggestions on hones

If you are wanting to learn to hone, then you definitely want to start with a junk razor. My hone recommendation would be a DMT 325 to lap the hones with, a Norton 1k for bevel setting, a Norton 4k/8k combo, a 12k Naniwa for finishing, and a CrOx pasted strop.

It's a lot easier to learn by refreshing a blade with a barber hone or a 12k hone. And when that no longer works go to the 8k. Then go to the 4k when the 8k doesn't bring it back.

Good luck

Originally Posted by criswilson10

If you are wanting to learn to hone, then you definitely want to start with a junk razor.

"Junk" razors, while possibly ok for practising technique on, usually come with inherent problems that can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you are starting out. Make it easy on yourself and start with a good razor.

I would get a 6"/8" 320 grit diamond plate from dmt and a 1k Norton/King/Chosera first.

Does your genco just need a touch up. As in it still shaves but it pulling or not shaving as nice as it use to. Or did you drop it or damage it some other way where the bevel needs a reset. I know this may be a hard question to answer as a novice but that in for will help. If you just need a touch up you could just get some Chromium oxide and put it on a strop. That can keep your razor shaving sharp and comfortably for quite some time and is quite affordable. Or you could get something like a naniwa 12k or a barbers hone like others have suggested. If all you need is touchups then there is no need to buy the lower grit stones yet. And a dmt is not at all necessary and is quite expensive. A better option would be wet/dry sand paper for lapping. Cheap yet still effective and if you want to lap to a higher grit well it cost you all of 5 bucks for a pack vs. 100 bucks or soo for another dmt.

Also once you get a stone I would practice with that other razor you sent me just to get the feeling of keeping the razor flat on the stone. You won't be able to get that razor to shave but it will give you a feel for the technique before taking your genco to it.

Most of all though don't be afraid to do it. It's really not too hard as long as you got good coordination and understand what your trying to accomplish and how to accomplish it which can be learned by the many videos and articles in the wiki. Razors are made of steel. We make buildings and cars with steel so I think it can handle a session or two of you not knowing what your doing.

Lastly if you want I still got your address and if all you need is a touch up I can send you a stone to try out.

Originally Posted by cosperryan

Does your genco just need a touch up. As in it still shaves but it pulling or not shaving as nice as it use to. Or did you drop it or damage it some other way where the bevel needs a reset. I know this may be a hard question to answer as a novice but that in for will help. If you just need a touch up you could just get some Chromium oxide and put it on a strop. That can keep your razor shaving sharp and comfortably for quite some time and is quite affordable. Or you could get something like a naniwa 12k or a barbers hone like others have suggested. If all you need is touchups then there is no need to buy the lower grit stones yet. And a dmt is not at all necessary and is quite expensive. A better option would be wet/dry sand paper for lapping. Cheap yet still effective and if you want to lap to a higher grit well it cost you all of 5 bucks for a pack vs. 100 bucks or soo for another dmt.

Also once you get a stone I would practice with that other razor you sent me just to get the feeling of keeping the razor flat on the stone. You won't be able to get that razor to shave but it will give you a feel for the technique before taking your genco to it.

Most of all though don't be afraid to do it. It's really not too hard as long as you got good coordination and understand what your trying to accomplish and how to accomplish it which can be learned by the many videos and articles in the wiki. Razors are made of steel. We make buildings and cars with steel so I think it can handle a session or two of you not knowing what your doing.

Lastly if you want I still got your address and if all you need is a touch up I can send you a stone to try out.

Yes it still shaves but not as close as it did when I first got it.

I have now come to realize just how important and delicate these things are they must be kept in a good secure place were the cannot get bumped.

As far as a nick in the blade I think that it has a small one put I can barely tell and a camera would not pick it up.

So do you think I should try the Chromium oxide first or go straight to a barber hone?

Eventually I will get a full set up but for now I am tackling problems as they arise

We cannot be sold on something we do not initially want

If you want to start honing razors you will need a razor without geometry issues. A factory edge dovo or revisor would work or something off e bay but that can be difficult as you are buying based on pictures.

You could start with a norton 4/8 and should be able to get a razor shave ready with just that stone and a strop. Later add a bevel setter (1k stone) and a finisher (12k...?)

Naniwa, shapton norton Chinese 12k all depends on your budget

Originally Posted by Antzgarciak7

Yes it still shaves but not as close as it did when I first got it.

I have now come to realize just how important and delicate these things are they must be kept in a good secure place were the cannot get bumped.

As far as a nick in the blade I think that it has a small one put I can barely tell and a camera would not pick it up.

So do you think I should try the Chromium oxide first or go straight to a barber hone?

Eventually I will get a full set up but for now I am tackling problems as they arise

Tackling problems as they arise may or may not be a good strategy as... well, I wouldn't advise it for a multitude of reasons really. But the biggest reason I wouldn't advise it is because if you blow the fire-fighting, you'll need another tool to continue - and that can be very frustrating as you wait for it in the mail hoping its the bandaid you need.

Were you sitting beside me in a coffee shop asking me this question, I would strongly advise you not to fight fires, but to get a system in place.

If you want to learn how to hone, I think it stands to reason that you would buy a set of stones to take you from poor to stellar. Recall, if you ding your blade on the sink, you'll need to start from scratch. That said, I guess you could slowly buy your stones backwards. Ie, 12k, then 8k, down to a 1k.

There are more than a few guys who maintain their blades after a pro hones their razor. This can be done with a single 10k or 12k stone, pastes, or whatever. I have found this to work very well for me - but again, what if you drop or ding the blade?

I applaud you on wanting to learn how to hone - it can be frustrating to learn, but I have found little that compares to the satisfaction of having successfully honed a blade! It ranks up there with noting I had become complacent about shaving with a straight .

I wish you all the best - I would think system - perhaps building a system.

Originally Posted by earcutter

Tackling problems as they arise may or may not be a good strategy as... well, I wouldn't advise it for a multitude of reasons really. But the biggest reason I wouldn't advise it is because if you blow the fire-fighting, you'll need another tool to continue - and that can be very frustrating as you wait for it in the mail hoping its the bandaid you need.

Were you sitting beside me in a coffee shop asking me this question, I would strongly advise you not to fight fires, but to get a system in place.

If you want to learn how to hone, I think it stands to reason that you would buy a set of stones to take you from poor to stellar. Recall, if you ding your blade on the sink, you'll need to start from scratch. That said, I guess you could slowly buy your stones backwards. Ie, 12k, then 8k, down to a 1k.

There are more than a few guys who maintain their blades after a pro hones their razor. This can be done with a single 10k or 12k stone, pastes, or whatever. I have found this to work very well for me - but again, what if you drop or ding the blade?

I applaud you on wanting to learn how to hone - it can be frustrating to learn, but I have found little that compares to the satisfaction of having successfully honed a blade! It ranks up there with noting I had become complacent about shaving with a straight .

I wish you all the best - I would think system - perhaps building a system.

Thank man and that is not my approach to all things but this is a new hobby and gets pricy sometimes that's what I meant

But thank you for the info on which order to buy

A good inexpensive way to get started is with lapping film. Go to youtube and search for lapping film and razors. A flat piece of 12"x12" granite floor tile (six dollars) from Lowe's or Home Depot works well as a base for your lapping film. Cut the stone into four, three inch sections and you have basically four different stones with different grits of lapping film. Good Luck.

Ozarkedger is right. You will want to get you a 1k, 4k or 5k & 8k or 10k. Norton makes a 1k & a combo 4k/8k. Naniwa makes a 1k, 5k & 10k. I have both those setups plus I have Shapton 1k, 2k 4k 8k & a 16k for a finisher. An 8k can be used for a finish but if you really want a fine mirror finish you can get a Naniwa 12k or a Shapton 16k, They make even finer finishers like Shapton makes a 30k but be ready to dish out over $300 for that stone. All the rest are reasonably priced. The 16k was around $160 though I think. You can buy Norton & Naniwa at Straight Razor Designs & they couldn't be priced any lower than anyone else. Just click on their ad on one of these pages. You can go to the Library to watch videos on honing & learn to strop on here as well. Don't forget youtube. I saw a good stropping video on there as well. Like others have said there are a lot of articles on learning here. For now it would probably be best to send your razor out if it needs honing & get a spare for when that is being done. You won't regret it & BTW, when you buy honing stones you will want a lapping plate or stone to make your hones perfectly flat. All hones even new don't come lapped & you must do it yourself. You want flat hones in order to get a nicely honed edge & for it to be done right. So get you some hones & a lapping plate & you'll be good to go. You'll be a pro before you know it if you follow the simple instructions. By the way, what part of Texas are you in? I'm just outside of Houston.