Thread: Hones for a beginner

Hi,

Well it's been a month now since i started straight shaving, and most likely due to improper stropping the blade is feeling dull. It still shaves, but it's not smooth as it once was. Unfortunately stropping hasn't brought it back. I think i'm doing it correctly, not too much pressure and essentially leaving the cutting edge along for the ride.

So my question is, what is a good inexpensive hone for a beginner to start out on ? I only want to bring back the sharpness, not polish or anything fancy.
I have a second cheap razor that i can practice on before moving on to my every day razor.

Thanks
Gencer

If its a touch up stone you're looking for, I'd get a barber hone from eBay. You can pick them up for around $25 and they are very effective.

Otherwise any high grit stone will do: Naniwa 12k, Shapton 16k, Coticule or other high grit natural.

You could also get some chromium oxide from the classifieds and make a pasted balsa strop. These are also very effective for touch ups, and are also very cheap to make! All you need is the CrOx, plus a block of balsa wood from a hobby store.

There are instructions in the Wiki on how to make balsa strops, and many members here use them.

Good luck and keep us posted!

The only thing I would add to Stubears thorough response is that if you go to ebay for a barbers hone (my recommendation)DO NOT get a zeepk. There is a guy from Poland who sells new hones at decent prices, if you are willing to wait for the overseas shipping. I got an 8k from him that is small and very good for touch ups. The advantage of it is you know what the grit is. You have no idea what you will get with no-name barbers hones.

Goog

Hello gencer,

I was having the exact same problem as you are when I first started. I was told to buy some CrO paste and apply it to the back side of my linen strop. I bought a SRD strop with both leather and linen strops . I just flip it over, make a few laps and back to the leather side.

Good luck and keep us posted

+1 on the previous advice. Your razor's blade may just need a touch up, not a honing.

I would recommend getting a modular paddle strop, like the one available at SRD, along with some CrO paste or some diamond spray and using that the restore the sharpness of your razor before trying to hone your razor.

You might try stroping on news paper. Use 2 sheets with heavy print taped to a flat surface. Give it a 100 passes on the news paper then a 100 on leather and try a shave and see how it does.


Silver2

Unfortunately you're in the zone of what I think is the most difficult level for a beginner. When you strop due to lack of experience and dull the razor it's hard to tell if a barber's hone will be enough to get the edge back, it really matters on the amount of dulling that occurred on the strop. When I started I Thought a swaty hone would bring my dull edge (from stropping wrong) back and when it didn't I was annoyed at my razor and myself. Then if you don't have honing experience it's easy to dull the razor more on the hone from using a stroke incorrectly, etc, just like you would on the strop...

Just remember to be patient and fight the up hill battles that may await you. It's a learning experience with a lot of trial and error but in another few months you may hit your stride!

Thanks for the advice peeps.

I haven't quite lost the edge, its there and its quiet shiny when the sun light catches whilst i'm trying to shave. Best i can describe it, is like a when a mach5 blade is done.

Right off round the internet to see what i can find. If do really mess it up i can always send it off to someone who can do it properly