Thread: Hone question

Hi, I recently just bought my first straight razor after a quick crash course from the Art of Shaving and the salesman introduced me to this site and encouraged me to join. I've been doing a little research here and was wondering if anyone might be able to answer my question.

So as already stated, just bought it, then found out that the factory sharp isn't as sharp as it should be in the beginning. I've already shaved 3 times and have gotten a little discomfort/pulling each time. Obviously this is also pretty indicative of the growing pains but one common theme I keep seeing is that beginners should start with as sharp a blade as possible. Unfortunately I tend to be a bit on the impatient side, and don't have much time to send the blade out to be professionally honed due to being in the military in a deployable status. That said, after looking through some forums, and watching multiple youtube videos on blade honing I decided to try to hone myself.

So I have been diving into the forums and have been looking for this answer but can't find anyone else who has really had the same question. For a brand new blade like I have, do I really need anything more than a 12K Naniwa Superstone to put that little finishing touch onto the edge. From the sounds of it it seemed like the lower grits were more for establishing the edge while the 12K was more for perfecting one thats already there. Is this an accurate assumption or should I grab a couple lower grit stones to work with. Thanks in advance

Welcome to SRP. Here is the beginner's guide if you haven't seen it already. Stuff on beginning shaving and on maintenance, honing and what have you. I would advise you to send out your new razor for pro honing and pick up some vintage razors to practice on. You'll have one to shave with and to compare your own efforts with other razors.

A norton 4/8 is a good starter hone IME. When you get good shaves out of that combination you're ready for the naniwa 12k.... IMHO.

DF, I did likewise for my first blade - a Dovo inox micarta. I discovered something about 'shave-ready' like you're finding. I chose to learn honing at the same time I was learning to use a str8. For me, this was a *BIG* mistake. That meant I spent my first 6 mo. trying to learn the shave w/ marginal edges. I bled alot. My first smooth edge was from a pasted strop from a vendor, and it was smooth, but the heel went south within a week.
The counsel to get a pro-hone is good - especially when brand new to the art. I'd gladly do it for just the cost of shipping it back to you, but when new - you don't know what a good edge is supposed to feel like. Here, the confidence you have in the Pro edge keeps your thinking on track - if the edge is good (a well known pro did it), then the rest is my technique. If funds are an issue - I'll gladly do. If not, I recommend a pro from the vendors classifieds.
With a nice edge, you're probably gonna love this so much you'll get grumpy if you have to use anything else.

I'd send the razor out for honing, you need to learn to shave before you learn to hone.
Later you can grab a practice blade and a set of stones and learn honing.

+1 with those above and check in your area if you can hook up with somebody teaching you the ropes... hones!

Take Rob/Pinklather up on his kind offer, he is one day shipping away from you, and knows how to hone, also we have a couple of meetups each year up here in the PNW, you should really try and meet with us at the next one...

Thank you everyone for the quick feedback, I will definitely be taking all of your advice and sending it out to be professionally done. Thank you for saving me the huge headache.