cheapest product to maintain a shave ready razor ? what would be?

[BJJ]

Hey guys...talking about cheap finishes... I saw some pretty good stuff... like coticules ... thuringians....

I was wondering what would be the cheapest...cheapest budget to maintain a shave ready razor... (except sandpaper)

I think it would maybe be a chinese 12k... but I have been looking in some chinese websites and I find something like this....

http://www.dhgate.com/3000-amp-1000...-ff8080813a071cb5013a34ad98112352.html#s1-3-1

i don't know if it that works for straight razor... but i don't know....

give me your opinions....

 

[timtiminy]

I'd say lapping films would be the cheapest options. I just payed about $20 for seven 9x13 films that range from 15 microns down to 0.3 microns

 

[ACorazza]

Lapping films may be the cheapest upfront but a coticule could last a lifetime. Also if you don't like it and want to get rid of it they are easy to sell and hold their value quite well. They're not the easiest to use and take some practice but once you get there its worth the wait. I'm sure films are too I just don't have any experience with them.

 

[noahpictures]

Lapping film or a barber hone would be the cheapest. Small coticules could be had for around $50-$60. A coti or Jnat, a strop and a razor is all one needs for many years of shaving.

 

[Legion]

CrOx on balsa is the cheapest, then lapping film, then Cnat hones. I have no knowledge of the hone you posted, but the size is tiny.

 

[Tierdaen]

If you ask nicely and pay shipping, I bet someone would be happy to supply a little chromium oxide or something so you can make a balsa strop for upkeep. That would keep an edge going for a long time.

Might not be a full solution, but for maintaining a good edge, it should do pretty well and is cheeeeaaaap.

CrOx on balsa is the cheapest, then lapping film, then Cnat hones. I have no knowledge of the hone you posted, but the size is tiny.

Aaah, I'm too slow.

 

[PapaFish]

The 2"x6"x1+" CNat I have I got for under $25 shipped. I had to lap it flat, but it should maintain edges for several lifetimes (provided you NEVER ding it, drop it, or get a fixer-upper). It'll be hard to get a good, new finisher for less.
CrOx on balsa is really inexpensive, but eventually, you will need to put the razor back on a hone.
Lapping films are inexpensive, but eventually, they will need replaced.

 

[SliceOfLife]

I've given barbers hones away in the past... if they aren't Norton or Dubl Duck or extra long Swaty's or some other famous brand... with no damage and ideally in the box (if they came with it) or some hyped up stone like a frictionite 00, they are almost worthless. You can get a mint condition less famous barbers hone like a DiamondKing or an Apart for $20-30 easily.. lap it on a bit of glass and some emery/wet-dry and you've got all you need to maintain. Alternately a Cnat TPRHOIG (The People's Republic's Hone of Indeterminate Grit) will do much the same job... they seem to be getting a bit more pricy lately (at least on eBay) though.

There's something to be said for splurging and dropping 50-90$ on a reasonably sized coticule though. It will do everything those stones do... in most cases faster, give you an edge that I feel most people would prefer, and let you do coarser work on razors much more quickly when necessary.

If you're absolutely sure you just want something cheap and functional though, snag up a good condition vintage barbers hone on the cheap. They were what the vast majority of people used for a century or two, so they're a good bet.

 

[Doc226]

Really depends on what type of edge you like.

Cheap but bad edge is not a great combo.

Expensive and bad would be worse.

 

[buca3152]

Dmt 1200 and 3 and 1 micron film. Pasted crox linen strop. I never used a barbers hone. I have Norton 220/1k 4/8k ,and a naniwa12k but the film edge is better IMO.

 

[Marco]

I'd get a Coticule bout.

 

[BJJ]

What's the sandpaper micron that corresponds to 8000grits or 12000 grits ?

 

[PapaFish]

What's the sandpaper micron that corresponds to 8000grits or 12000 grits ?

3 micron and 1 micron respectively. Sandpaper is going to be hard to come by at these grit ratings (the highest I have seen for sale was I think 5,000 grit), that's where the lapping film comes in. The films go to 0.3 micron.

 

[Neurotopia]

I have a CrOx balsa strop I don't use anymore. Cover shipping and it's yours. PM me.

 

[shakin_jake]

There's something to be said for splurging and dropping 50-90$ on a reasonably sized coticule though. It will do everything those stones do... in most cases faster, give you an edge that I feel most people would prefer, and let you do coarser work on razors much more quickly when necessary.

~~~~this!...especially if someone gave you a slice= Lapping film will offer a sharp edge and if you could purchase just two pieces (strips, 3" X9", 1 each 3um and 1um)...from a member that has sheets to cut from, that would be the least expensive, if he sold @ cost (about 45 cents a strip that size), then all you would need is a pasted strop, and balsa will work, hanging cotton is much better, Cr0x...

But in the long run, the stone will last a lifetime, and coticule if you get the right one, is a one stone solution. IOW, you can use it to correct the bevel and take you through to finish



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[jeness]

Cheapest? Some pasted strop, but that won't cut it after some time. In the long run a 6x2" C12k is the cheapest possible, or a synth barbers hone.

 

[tomjr]

^ +1 what he said. a c12k with slurry stone will last a lifetime and would be my choice. i would consider a translucent arki as well. they work well for me and i use both sides lapped differently to get the results i like.

 

[Tierdaen]

If you like convexed edges, you could also do a bit of upkeep by light stropping on the grey micromesh side of a nail buff. It's 12k or so, I think, and pretty cheap.

 

[Gamma]

Interesting - the OP's first post references a stone/hone that I'm waiting to be delivered; should be here in a couple weeks.
It took a while to find a merchant I'm comfortable working with, and I ordered one that's about double the size.

I've wanted one of the green stones for a long time. There was a seller on eBay that had an 8x2x1 piece but the price was too high for a trial.
Someone on one of the forums had one - but I never heard much feedback about it.

The green side of that little hone has been sold as being Agate, Beryl, and Emerald by several sellers in/around China. The first merchant I contacted about this stone swore it was Beryl - but who knows?
Even though I'm not sure what it is, I'd like to try it.

The sintered Ruby side is a more coarse stone - I've seen it sold as a polish stone for removing casting marks in metal molds.
Apparently - wood-workers use them too.

My guess is that the red is probably a higher-grit mid-range stone and the green is a decent-very good polisher. I don't know how it'll map out for use with razors though.
My hope is that it'll be a good sub for a barber hone option.