Thread: As a Newcomer to stones what is the best order to use them?

Ok guys.I just got a few old ebay razors that are in decent condition but wont shave.I realize that there is a "pyramid" of grits/stones to bring a razor back to a keen edge.Without getting too pricey what is the way to go?I have ordered this from ebay to start with.Am I doing it wrong?

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What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Category:Hones - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Category:Honing - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks man for the quick reply.Although I have straight razor shaved for 30 years,I used to hand my Gottahs into my local barber who would do the needed for me.This great guy is now deceased so I got the idea to try it myself.I realize that certain stones are pricey but I'm trying to do it on a budget as I am unemployed.(is this possible).Although my razors have yet to arrive from ebay I guess from the photos and seller descriptions that they are "almost" shave ready.So I don't want to restore an old clunker but rather put a keen edge on an already decent blade.I have read of people using wet and dry paper to do this but as a noob to honing I don't know if its true.

I think you need one more stone, of a higher grit, for finishing.

Anything that you would recommend buddy? for a po' boy.Im ready to hone for hours on a cheapo stone if it finally will do the job.

A Chinese Hone/PHIG...from Woodcraft or Ebay.....they call them 12K.....

Good prices....

Thats a tough one, I'll have to let a few other guys weight in on that. For inexpensive I suppose I would go with the Chinese psuedo 12K, but that might be a big jump, require lots of time and passes. But, if your patient it should work, for around $30. But, check in the Wiki and see what the other responses are.

Thanks man.I don't mind the passes as long as I get the results.Another thing I came across on ebay was an Arkansas translucent stone.What is this?Any use because for me it's affordable.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Thats a tough one, I'll have to let a few other guys weight in on that. For inexpensive I suppose I would go with the Chinese psuedo 12K, but that might be a big jump, require lots of time and passes. But, if your patient it should work, for around $30. But, check in the Wiki and see what the other responses are.

What he said. You can get the 2 inch wide version for about $23. But you will have to be patient. The stone you linked to (which I am not familiar with) says it is 1200 and 3000 grit so you are indeed making a big jump. I use the 2 inch PHIG as a slurry stone on my 3 inch PHIG and that speeds things up a bit but it is far from a fast cutter.

Hey Johnny,

I know we've got members all over the UK; check the Google map (first item in the Community dropdown menu above) and see if there's anyone nearby.

Welsh Dragon's Tongue hones were pretty inexpensive, at least a few years ago. I don't know if they were consistently good as finishers, though. The newer Thuringians are cheaper if they don't cross the Atlantic, but reviews on them have been pretty mixed. Some aren't good finishers, and a new Thuringian hasn't been through the same selection process applied to the old Droeshers and Eschers, the stones that made "Thuringian" famous. It's less the quarry site than the quality control.

Your best bet, as far as consistent success and getting questions answered, is to get a Norton or Naniwa 1k, and a Norton 4k/8k or Naniwa 3k/8k. Those are the workhorse hones. That one in your link looked way coarser than 1200 on the labeled side, and 3000 is not, as the ad claimed, a razor hone. 8k is the minimum most folks shave off of, and that's after they've mastered the light touch with it. If the one in your link really is as fine as it says, you might be able to use the 1200 side for bevel setting and the 3000 side for sharpening, but you'll still need the 8000 to put on a shaveable polish.

You can use wet/dry sandpaper, as you wondered, but there are two things to watch out for: snagging the edge of the paper while honing (a hone's edges are chamfered to prevent that), and much higher grit density than a typical hone. That means you'll be removing metal really quickly, so a very very light touch is called for.

Good luck with your razors, and with finding work. I'm outta work too, right now. It's a good time to learn something new, anyway.

Best wishes to you.