WTB: Inexpensive Finishing hone

**tsenfw** · 10-10-2008, 10:08 AM

Grad student on a really tight budget, looking for a hone to touch up a shave ready razor when it needs it. My norton 4/8k is just too high grit.

**stobes21** · 10-10-2008, 11:05 AM

You could make your own 2 sided paddle strop with 1 micron diamond paste and chromium oxide for ~$20. I'm currently setting this up: I have the CrO strop, and am waiting for the diamond paste to do the other side.

Diamond paste: $12
CrO: $4
Balsa, wood backing, and sandpaper (to flatten): $4-10

See this thread for more information.

**tsenfw** · 10-10-2008, 03:42 PM

Thanks for the advice and link, I might make one myself.

Still looking for an inexpensive honing stone though because as mentioned in the thread, you still need to hone the razor eventually. Paste only prolongs it.

**RoyalKooparillo** · 10-10-2008, 04:01 PM

Many gentlemen here seem to like the Chinese 12k as an inexpensive finishing hone. Here's a review of it.

**ScottS** · 10-10-2008, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by tsenfw

Thanks for the advice and link, I might make one myself.

Still looking for an inexpensive honing stone though because as mentioned in the thread, you still need to hone the razor eventually. Paste only prolongs it.

You're getting into an expensive area. You might well need more than a 12K stone (which is what the Chinese stone is), for example, for those "eventual" touch ups. A finishing stone might not be enough.

**stobes21** · 10-10-2008, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by tsenfw

Thanks for the advice and link, I might make one myself.

Still looking for an inexpensive honing stone though because as mentioned in the thread, you still need to hone the razor eventually. Paste only prolongs it.

This is true, but you already have a hone for that purpose in the norton 4k/8k. The pasted strop would serve for finishing off the hone and intermediate touchups. Whatever, don't take this as threadcraping, I'm just a fellow grad student going through the same process now.

**gugi** · 10-10-2008, 06:29 PM

You probably mean that your norton 8k is not high enough grit.
Most often the problem is not the norton, but the honing. I most certainly can shave comfortably off it, but I prefer the finish from other stones.
It is not unreasonable though to keep only one finishing hone and not the norton. There are many alternatives at various price points - the ceramic barber's hones, small coticule/escher, the chinese one...
I have a three line swaty and another larger 1.5"x7" ceramic hone that I know I am not going to keep forever as I have plenty of coticules and eschers, but at this point I have not played enough with them.

**tsenfw** · 10-10-2008, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by stobes21

This is true, but you already have a hone for that purpose in the norton 4k/8k. The pasted strop would serve for finishing off the hone and intermediate touchups. Whatever, don't take this as threadcraping, I'm just a fellow grad student going through the same process now.

Oh, so I should be ok with the norton 4k/8k for the inevitable honing and the pasted strop/balsa for final polishing and touchups?

I'll have to work on my honing. Maybe I'll get a finishing stone eventually too.

Anyone have a link for the small coticule/escher? I found the chinese one.

**gugi** · 10-10-2008, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by tsenfw

Oh, so I should be ok with the norton 4k/8k for the inevitable honing and the pasted strop/balsa for final polishing and touchups?

I'll have to work on my honing. Maybe I'll get a finishing stone eventually too.

Anyone have a link for the small coticule/escher? I found the chinese one.

Yes, I'd say if you can't get a razor to shave off the norton, a higher grit hone won't help much.
As far as links - the usual place for coticules is thishttp://www.theperfectedge.com/belgian.shtml, and as far as eschers/thuringians go, these have not been mined since WW2, so you can either get one of the ones that Muller cuts from some leftover blocks, or see if you can find a vintage one. For the Muller though there have been reports that large part of them have inclusions that make them questionable for razor use.
I sold few of my small ones and you can see one of them here.

However, as you'll see coticules are not budget and eschers/thuringians are even more expensive. Every now and then though you may stumble on something cheap, so good to keep in mind.

**FaPat5** · 10-11-2008, 05:11 AM

Try checking eBay for a Carborundum Barber Razor Hone. They have different numbers (mine is No.102) which, it seems, represent how rough the hone is (the lower the number the finer, I think). I have one myself. When you need to hone a bit more, just use it dry, but if you are just touching up, spread lather on the hone, and it will be finer. It have used it several times, and it works great.