Thread: Ohhh so you lap the hone first... Damn it!

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

What is this 'free honing certificate' you speak of, pray tell?...

SRD has a great program where when you buy a razor from them not only is it professionally honed by the best in the business, but when it inevitably becomes dull you can send it back to them for a second free honing, I assume you still need to pay fit shipping but it does save you the $20 for a honing.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Since the razors they sell have already been honed by them, this is for a later honing. This comes in especially handy for new guys who screw up their razors even before shaving with them.

Oh sure jab the new guy LOL!

Originally Posted by BigJim

I don't know the Naniwa 12k, but just going off of what I've read recently here, it is not the same as a barber's hone. Abrasive materials and grits are different, and consequently they behave differently. Can you use them in similar fashion? Probably. But the 12k is much more of a finishing/polishing stone, where as the BH is designed for quick edge renewal (some around 10k, some a combo more around 6/10k range). What's more a BH can be had for around $10-20, as opposed to the Nani's $70-80 price tag.

Again, I'm no hone expert. And I don't have a Naniwa to compare to my Swaty BH. Maybe Ron/Utopian can chime in here as he has far more experience with hones than I do.

Peace,

The price of a professional honing is a bargain when compared to the
sum cost of a set of hones. It is well recommended....
If you want to hone your keep a bag of tossables handy for the
days when you almost get it right.

Man made hones like the Naniwa 12K cut steel well and leave a quality edge.
As long as you never roll the edge on the strop the 12k should maintain the edge
almost forever. I like my Na12K a lot.

Barber hones can prove exceptional to ordinary. When used with a light
touch many razors respond to a minimum five or six strokes. A thin
layer of lather helps. Five perhaps six light hone strokes is all that most
barber hone need. More strokes tends to raise a burr and the edge quality
can go down hill quickly. Less is more with a barber hone.

In my opinion a Norton 4K/8K combo or a Naniwa 3K/8K combo is a better
choice for a first hone. Use the 8K side once or twice a month with a minimum count of
strokes like a barber hone. If the edge gets slightly rolled you can visit
the 4K side for a minimum pyramid refresh. N.B. You will want
a way to lap your Naniwa or Norton flat.