I need to buy a hone. Suggestions?

[suplex]

Hello all.
I read Joel guide to honing - excellent.

I have been wondering why all of my attempts to shave my face with my straight razor have been miserable failures and after reading about the sharpness tests it seems that my blade is simply not sharp. (It seemed OK as I was hell able to make smooth patches on my legs with on long stroke in the shower- I guess it's not the same)

Anyway, looks like I need to sharpen my razor. I was in the knife shop today looking at hones. I found the KitaYama stone which Joel had mentioned in his guide and almost bout it but realized that I had no Idea what I was getting into.

The Norton 4000/8000 sounds pretty good for me as a beginner, however it is not available in my local shop. Maybe it's not common or available in Japan. Nor does it seem that stones of two grades are available.

So here's my question: What do you suggest that I buy. Perhaps a 4000 stone and the KitaYama. How does that sound? Or should I just buy a 4000 and an 8000?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,

suplex

[FloppyShoes]

Your profile says you live in Japan, I envy you as such because you live in a land of fine hones and blades. If you buy something in the 4-6k range, then something in the 8-10k range, then the kitayama or a natural stone to finish, you should be in good shape. I know this sounds like a lot of hones to buy, but you can actually end up spending less by buying seperate hones instead of a norton combo shipped from another continent. There are litterally dozens of synthetic stone makers in Japan, each with stones in these categories, so they should not be hard to find.

As for natural stones, you could not be better situated. Get in touch with a local distributor and let them know your needs, they will know what you need and how much it will cost. Keep in mind, however, a nice super-fine natural stone can fetch upwards of $5 000 USD, whereas a synthetic hone that does essentially the same thing costs about 20 times less. At lower grits the prices are similar, it comes down to preference.

[Sticky]

What I'd get if starting fresh:

• DMT D8C for lapping, general knife use, and major razor repairs.
• DMT D8EE for setting and polishing razor bevels.
• Chinese 12k, Spyderco UF, or a fine barber hone(s) for final polish and maintenance.
• Newspaper for the occasional harsh edge (strop it).
• I don't like pastes, but if I did; 0.5 green chrome oxide.

EDIT: this looks like the closest int'l dealer for DMT products (might not be most recent info)
Baekma (Korea) (02)696-6696-8849 www.sgokorea.co.kr

[TromboneGuy]

True, but since he's in Japan, it would be a lot cheaper for him to stick to Japanese-made hones rather than importing a bunch of DMT plates.

[suplex]

so If I read you gents correctly, I need 3 stones.
What FloppyShoes said seems reasonable. Sticky - sounds cool, nice website, but might not be readily available at my local shop.
Actually, I'll drop buy the shop and take a few pics and post them. Maybe you can comment on them...

He's another question. Does brand make a big difference? For example, there may be 10 stones all of which are labeled 8k and ceramic, but a wide range of prices. Do you get what you pay for?

A couple more quick questions:
-If I were to shave 4 or 5 times a week with my straight razor, how often would one expect to sharpen his razor (ballpark). Whenever it feels like it needs it I suppose. How about in your case?

-I'm just shaving myself and would only be honing my razor, nothing else. How long are these stones likely to last?

Thanks again. You guys are very helpful.

[Ookla The Mok]

I won't answer questions based on experience, but these are the answers I have seen posted to similar questions.

Unless you damage or roll the edge of the razor, you shouldn't be honing very often. Perhaps 5 times per year. If you use a pasted paddle strop, much less.

Provided you care for them properly, any quality honing stones you are purchasing are likely to outlive you.

[suplex]

ookla,
sounds very reasonable. What about giving the razor a quick swipe on the polishing stone and /or finishing stone once in a while?

[Sticky]

so If I read you gents correctly, I need 3 stones.
What FloppyShoes said seems reasonable. Sticky - sounds cool, nice website, but might not be readily available at my local shop.
Actually, I'll drop buy the shop and take a few pics and post them. Maybe you can comment on them...

He's another question. Does brand make a big difference? For example, there may be 10 stones all of which are labeled 8k and ceramic, but a wide range of prices. Do you get what you pay for?

You don't always get what you pay for. Many users here (not me, sorry) are familiar w various Japanese hones. Mention specific brand names and someone here has probably tried/owned it.

A couple more quick questions:
-If I were to shave 4 or 5 times a week with my straight razor, how often would one expect to sharpen his razor (ballpark). Whenever it feels like it needs it I suppose. How about in your case?

Once sharpened, I get more than 20 good shaves (so far) using 60 or so laps on the leather before each shave. I use a barber hone to touch up, rarely so far. Unless I damage the edge, the barber hone (a Swaty) and a strop should be more than enough to keep a sharp razor maintained. I've heard that every 2 to 6 months is enough between honings. Since I have 12 razors and have been straight shaving for about 2 months, I haven't really needed to re-hone yet!

-I'm just shaving myself and would only be honing my razor, nothing else. How long are these stones likely to last?
...

If you only keep 6 or so razors, for a waterstone: maybe a lifetime/decades.

[suplex]

12 razors! Sticky, why do you need 12 razors? Do you use them all or just collect?

I have 1 razor. Is that not enough?

[Sticky]

...
I have 1 razor. Is that not enough?

One or two is enough until it turns into a hobby... I am a rank beginner, many members here have more than 50. RAD disorder...

Yes, I collect and am starting to refurbish too. I can't resist a nice old beat-up razor when I see one.

Some old-timers might have kept a seven-day set. My Grandfather kept 3 to 4 at all times. He liked to have a back-up razor in case he dinged one up.

[FloppyShoes]

...have a back-up razor in case he dinged one up.

This is generally a good idea. If something happens to your razor mid-shave, you're screwed unless you have a second. I have about a dozen now, but for me it's a collection more than a toolbox.

In answer to your question about prices, to a certain extent, yes, you get what you pay for. A cheap hone will have uneven particle distribution, will not be flat and may do more harm than good. A mid range hone (the target here) will have a relatively even grit, will be close to flat when you buy it and will produce a decent edge.

Unless you get DMT or Spyderco Hones, you'll probably need to lap them flat. There are instructions on here written by Joel on how to do so easily.

If you have a couple of razors, both they and your hones could last you your lifetime (one time purchase).

Decent Japanee hone makers:

King
Kitayama
Ice Bear
Naniwa
Suehiro
Kikuichi
Takenoko