Thread: If you could only have one hone...

Hi,

I am trying to complete my straight razor setup, i already have a paladin strop which I ordered from Ruprazors, and now I am looking for a hone, a currently daunting task. I see alot of members with many many different hones, and I am looking for, is for one hone that will last me indefinitely. I saw a quote by another members, it went something like "i have 1 straight razor, 1 strop, and 1 hone, which all lasted me over 30 years, that simplicity is the beauty of straight razors". I kinda of agree with this, i would like to keep my setup simple too.

Now i am looking for a hone that i can use as maintenance for my straight razor to keep it sharp and keen. I am probably never going to abuse it enough that i need to do some rough work, I just need to keep the sharp edge from time to time that stropping cant.

Ive heard that 8000 grit hone would produce sharp edge but not sharp enough, then other members saying that 16k would be a finishing hone, and an 8k hone would be needed first. Then others say a barber's hone, but when i google barber's hone, there is no specific brand or model, just links to threads describing hone's that barbers used to use

any help would surely be appreciated

A barber hone would be a good, cheap (hopefully) option for what you describe, but as you said they can vary greatly between brand. Hopefully someone will chime in with a few more to look out for as my experience is limited to a Franz Swaty and a norton pike - both of which left a perfectly serviceable edge. A more modern (and expensive) option would be an 8 or 12k Naniwa super stone. best of luck!

Hi I would recommend a yellow coticule fantastic hone, not cheap. Are their natural sharping stones available in new Zealand ?

Originally Posted by Westminster

Hi I would recommend a yellow coticule fantastic hone, not cheap. Are their natural sharping stones available in new Zealand ?

I honestly dont know. There are no long standing smithy traditions, (Indigenous Maori never mined or refined metals prior to us Europeans colonizing them) so I don't think our geology was ever explored with hones in mind. If anything the Pounamu (greenstone/ jade) that is synonymous with New Zealand may have some 'hone-y' attributes as it is very hard and dense. Maybe I should find out and corner the market on the next 'wunderhone?' ;-)

If you absolutely have to limit yourself to "1" stone; then get the Norton 4000/8000 and learn how to bring that razor to shave ready.
There are people here(not me, yet!) who can "shave ready" with an 8000.

Then again, don't limit yourself to only 1. Sacrifice in another area of life.

I would agree with westminister and the coticule. Any 12k synthetic hone will do the job, but if there will be a need for a bit coarser work, with a coticule and its slurry you will be able to do it. And the price is not so very high compared with the prices of the other ~12k grit stones.

A coticule. With slurry you can bevel set, but it will take quite a while. If your razors already have a good bevel on them, you can use slurry to water with various amounts of strokes and end up with a buttery smooth edge.

If you're looking for the simplicity of a one stone hone/touchup, I believe this is the way to go.

Good luck.

I'd go 4/8k Norton, and maybe add a 1k too for more serious edge work if you think you will be doing such.

A Norton 4/8k, and paste/s if only one hone. You will be able to do everything on that stone, and the paste will come in handy for finishing, and touch ups. If you are going to use only one razor, one strop, and one stone, than you can't choose better.

In my reading you "just" want to shave, so this setup cannot be beat in my experience.

As others have said, a norton 4/8 would be my choice for the reasons already stated.