Thread: Newby Honing Question

Ok, I know you guys get alot of honing questions so I will try and be as specific and clear as I can be in the hopes of an easy answer for those who know. I want to start learning to hone but am not sure exactly what hones I need.

First, I will tell you what sort of honing I would like to do. Most of my razors (all except for one which is one I was sent to practice honing on) have been sent to me shave ready. Since I live in Taipei I cannot find the Norton stones (I was recommended to get the Norton combination 4k/8k possibly with the 1k) and think I may be more successful getting the Naniwa since Japan is just next door.

1. Would a Japanese Naniwa Superstone 3000 & 8000 Grit Combo Stone be sufficient to get a a razor to shave ready conditions if it has already been professionally honed at one period in time?

2. Do I need a 1k stone? How do I know if I need to set the bevel. I.e. with the stone that has been sent to me to practice honing on?

3. Do I need a finer stone to finish on? I read that I may only need a coticule? Or perhaps a Barber's hone? Or (which would probably be easier for me to find here) a Naniwa 12k would do the trick? Or do I just need to paste the linen side (I only really use the leather side to be honest) of my strop?

So I guess I am really asking which of these options would you recommend:

A) A Naniwa Superstone 3000 & 8000 Grit Combo Stone ONLY
B) A Naniwa Superstone 3000 & 8000 Grit Combo Stone with a Naniwa Superstone 12000
C) A Naniwa Superstone 3000 & 8000 Grit Combo Stone with a pasted strop.
D) a Naniwa Superstone 12000 ONLY
E) Some sort of paste for linen side of strop ONLY (reccomendations?)


Or perhaps as Glen recommended I should just sit tight and shave and srop for about six months more - I'm into my 3rd month. I thought getting into honing would be something good to get into relatively early on and practice with razors I don't care too much for just so that when I really needed to later on I had some sort of experience with the motions - I've never sharpened any sort of blade before. Your thoughts and advice are most welcome. Thank you!

Your set up B. would be perfect for everything but restorations

You can set a bevel on the 3k it just take longer than on a 1k so other than the bad ones yer fine...

Thanks Glen,

Very helpful - I know EXACTLY what I'm looking for. Also, think this is the easiest one to get my hands on over here.

Cheers!

Hi Glen - or anyone else actually,

Do you think getting a crappy double arrow / gold dollar (unhoned direct from a Chinese seller) and using that to practice on would be a good exericise that could be done with A Naniwa Superstone 3000 & 8000 Grit Combo Stone with a Naniwa Superstone 12000?

Thanks!

The only way I learned to hone razors was by honing razors. More razors is better IME. You could probably make out okay with what you have. If not you could add a coarser stone or something in between 3 and 8 if necessary.

With the fact that you are in Taipei thrown in the mix, I would have to say for you, yes it is a good option... Just make sure you understand that there are a ton of problems that come with some of them, so not getting a good edge might actually be the razors fault....

Originally Posted by ganboyi

1. Would a Japanese Naniwa Superstone 3000 & 8000 Grit Combo Stone be sufficient to get a a razor to shave ready conditions if it has already been professionally honed at one period in time?

2. Do I need a 1k stone? How do I know if I need to set the bevel. I.e. with the stone that has been sent to me to practice honing on?

3. Do I need a finer stone to finish on? I read that I may only need a coticule? Or perhaps a Barber's hone? Or (which would probably be easier for me to find here) a Naniwa 12k would do the trick? Or do I just need to paste the linen side (I only really use the leather side to be honest) of my strop?

1. yes, although you will most likely want a little more polish on it
2. not unless you chip the razor or start doing resto work
3. need, maybe, prefer, definitely. a pasted strop will do the same trick, no worries.

thank you guys, will let you know how i get on. cheers

hey there,

I wondered what were the pros and cons of getting a good barber's hone as a finishing stone instead of something like a 12k naniwa? I've seen that they are definitely cheaper - do they do the same job?

Thanks

Originally Posted by ganboyi

hey there,

I wondered what were the pros and cons of getting a good barber's hone as a finishing stone instead of something like a 12k naniwa? I've seen that they are definitely cheaper - do they do the same job?

Thanks

A good barber hone is meant to refresh a razor that needs a quick touch up. When I got started I used a Swaty as a finisher following the 8k because that was all that I had. Once I got a high grit finisher I used it. The 12k is 8" long and the average barber hone is 4". The barber hone will do if that is all that you have ..... and you get a 'good' one but if I could only have one or the other I would pick the 12k without hesitation. Just IMHO.