Need further light after reading straight razor guide.

[maboot38]

So I've read through the guide, and while I think I understand all of the types of hones and finishing strops, etc., I still feel a bit confused as to exactly what I need. So here is my situation and hopefully someone can clear things up for me.

A friend of mine has a Dovo Razor that he got many years ago but never used. To my knowledge, the blade has never been honed, so my plan when I get it is to send it to a honemeister (probably straightrazordesigns). That way I'll be starting fresh with a shave-ready razor.

My problem is that I want to decide what I need to maintain my blade. From my reading, I understand that I should still get something like a Norton 4000/8000 in case I get a knick in the blade, or something to that effect, but I also know that 8000 is too coarse to be sufficient for a shave-ready edge. I'm not sure of is what I should get in addition. My understanding is that to mainting the shave-ready finish, I would need a leather strop, but what about in-between the 8000 hone and the strop? Should I get a 12K hone, or a finishing strop? A finishing stone? What is recommended for the occasional hone when you've gotten to the point when stropping isn't "cutting it" anymore?

Still confused,

Dan

 

[holli4pirating]

Initially, all you will need is a strop and possibly a finishing hone for touchups. I recommend a Naniwa 12k, based on my own experiences and preferences.

 

[maboot38]

Ahh, ok, so you're saying that for the occasional hone, a 12k is good for you. He's giving me the strop he got with the blade, so I'll have that.

Thx.

 

[alexo]

A modern alternative would be lapping film. They come cheap from 10 micron to 0.3 and they last a long time. They're mentioned in several threads in this forum.

 

[maboot38]

Interesting. A lapping film discussion would be a great addition to the interactive guide thread. Since I only see passive mention of lapping film when using the search tool, it would be cool to hear of some comparison.

So...it seems like the options are either a finishing strop, a barber hone, a 12k hone, or a lapping film. Still rather lost.

What are people's preferences in this area?

 

[holli4pirating]

I don't know what you are referring to when you say finishing strop, but seems to be generally accepted that a razor should be stropped before every shave.

 

[maboot38]

Yeah, I know that blades need regular stropping with a leather strop. I'm not talking about a regular strop, I'm talking about this finishing strop...

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=348165#post348165

I'll start over...

Normally, when you have a shave-ready razor, daily stropping is required. However...eventually that blade will start to dull, and it is a that point that I'm stuck. What do you use? If I go by the interactive guide stickied on this forum, it tells me to either use a wet finishing hone or a finishing strop like the one in the link above. Another user on here posted using a 12k hone. So that's 3 different options, and they are confusing me.

Have I better communicated my confusion? Sorry if I'm not clear, I just see some areas that are foggy for me to understand.

 

[Will P.C.]

The finishing strop you are referring to is called a pasted strop. Their are a number of different paste and sprays you can use to touch up a razor.

Their are also a number of ways to touch up a razor such as the barber hone, naniwa 12k, shapton 30k, coticule, chinese 12k, thurigian, etc.

The stones and pastes are both used for touch ups in order to keep the razor shave ready.

Your budget will be important because some of these stones can get pricey. In the end, once you figure out your budget, then you need to pick something out. It can be confusing since their are so many options, but all of these options will work

The reason you are getting different answers in this thread is because everybody has a favorite way of touching up their razor.

What is your budget?

 

[maboot38]

Oh I know the 100 different guys, 100 different answers dilemna. I'm just hoping that I can get a good and correct start here.

To start out with, I'd probably prefer to spend somewhere between $50 and $100 on my blade maintenance tools to begin with (keeping in mind that I already have a standard strop).

 

[Will P.C.]

As you go along and once you are committed you will gradually try out the different ways of touching up a razor

I really like the naniwa 12k

 

[maboot38]

That's 2 recommendations for the 12k. Sounds like that's the way to go for me for now, then I can try other methods later.

 

[professorchaos]

Get a shave ready straight, a strop and start shaving. All other considerations are secondary until you have some experience under your belt. For maintenance, pasted strops aren't fashionable at the moment, but they are effective and easy to use.

 

[Basset]

I am another Naniwa 12k fan. That said, for regular touchups, a cheaper, easier-to-learn way is a barber hone, which will typically run less than 1/2 the price of the Naniwa, and is something you can keep in your bathroom cabinet and bring out on the spot. A barber hone obviates the need even for a pasted strop, IMHO.

With any hone, don't forget that you need to lap (level) the surface. You can do that any number of ways, the cheapest being sandpaper. You can find innumerable posts on that.

 

[Chimensch]

The absolutely lowest cost, effective and overall solution that I've seen is a set of stones from Open_Razor on eBay. It gives you a 3K/8K and C12K for $50.00 plus shipping.

 

[Basset]

The absolutely lowest cost, effective and overall solution that I've seen is a set of stones from Open_Razor on eBay. It gives you a 3K/8K and C12K for $50.00 plus shipping.

Well, call it $70 shipped. It's a 5k stone, 8k stone, and chinese 12k. The latter is lapped, mercifully.

Still, a $20 barber hone and your leather/linen strop should keep you shaving for the better part of a year - by which time will know if this is for you. If not, it's easy to unload with barber hone and get that money back. And if you do decide to stick with straights and pick up hones, you are still going to find that barber hone very handy.

 

[Chimensch]

Well, call it $70 shipped. It's a 5k stone, 8k stone, and chinese 12k. The latter is lapped, mercifully.

Still, a $20 barber hone and your leather/linen strop should keep you shaving for the better part of a year - by which time will know if this is for you. If not, it's easy to unload with barber hone and get that money back. And if you do decide to stick with straights and pick up hones, you are still going to find that barber hone very handy.

A barbers hone is also a good solution but I doubt that you can find a good one in decent condition for $20.00 (more like $40.00). Other than eBay, the only source I know of is user GsSixgun on this forum.

 

[Basset]

A barbers hone is also a good solution but I doubt that you can find a good one in decent condition for $20.00 (more like $40.00). Other than eBay, the only source I know of is user GsSixgun on this forum.

Even $40 (double my priciest barber hone's cost, BTW) is less than $70. And it's going to be all you need for a long, long time. Maybe years.

Glen (Gssixgun) noted in another forum's sticky on honing that

"If the only task you want to perform is refreshing edges that have previously been established by a Honemeister (the process is often referred to as "touching up"), you need only get a fine grit finishing stone or a barber's hone for this. Either of these hones can be used to keep your razor(s) shave-ready for years."[/COLOR]

 

[Chimensch]

Even $40 (double my priciest barber hone's cost, BTW) is less than $70. And it's going to be all you need for a long, long time. Maybe years.

Glen (Gssixgun) noted in another forum's sticky on honing that

"If the only task you want to perform is refreshing edges that have previously been established by a Honemeister (the process is often referred to as "touching up"), you need only get a fine grit finishing stone or a barber's hone for this. Either of these hones can be used to keep your razor(s) shave-ready for years."[/COLOR]

I totally agree. My only concern (which was on my mind and not made explicit) is the problem of procuring and selecting one. I'll try to be more clear so maybe we can come to an agreement.

If we recommend a barbers hone and the user is convinced. Where does he go to get one and how does he select it? If he goes to eBay and can find one for $20 or $40, which one of the many available does he choose? After all, their characteristics and conditions are all different. If you are a hone collector, or have some experience, you can take an educated gamble and buy a $20 barbers hone and if it doesn't work out, it's no big deal but, if an inexperienced shaver buys one more or less “blind” and gets a bad one, then the cost starts to escalate. For example, I bought a Noxall hone on eBay that was still in its original box. When it arrived, one side was covered with some kind of gunk and when I removed it with oven cleaner, the surface was pitted. Or he could find that he picked a hone that was coarser than, say, a Swaty, and it isn't suitable. Then, he might have to try one or two more and the cost advantage is gone.

As I said, GsSixgun is a good resource because he has selected, lapped and tested his hones. But I went to his site and he doesn't seem to have any right now. Even if he gets more in, he is never going to be a plentiful source of barber hones to the extent that you could make a general recommendation to everyone.

On the other hand, if you want a solution that is of known quality and that can be expected to be generally available, you go to a supplier of new equipment.

So, what I'm trying to say is that I totally agree that a barbers hone can cost less than the set I mentioned and can be the perfect solution for maintaining a razor. In fact, if you've been around for a while, you may have seen some of my posts where I say that I used nothing but a Swaty for 28 years. The only difference is that I bought mine new at a time when they were still readily available.

So, yes, I totally agree with your argument and I'm only trying to present another point of view.

 

[michiganlover]

Larry @ Whipped Dog http://www.whippeddog.com/Barbers-Hones/, is another source for low cost Barber's hones. His supply seems a little on the small side currently though.

 

[Chimensch]

Larry @ Whipped Dog http://www.whippeddog.com/Barbers-Hones/, is another source for low cost Barber's hones. His supply seems a little on the small side currently though.

Good to know ... I've already bookmarked the site.