Straight razor sharpening

Benefactor · Post by **Benefactor** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:47 pm

As long as you keep your razor reasonably sharp from the time you get it, and don't let it get really dull, or dinged etc. is it actually necessary to use a hone? Would a strop with different kinds of pastes do the trick just as well?
Thanks

mparker762 · Post by **mparker762** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:10 pm

Use of a pasted paddle strop can extend the time between honings, but it's an open question as to how far the paddle can extend this interval, but "indefinitely" is an awfully long time. It's probably best to assume that at some point you'll need a hone.

Benefactor · Post by **Benefactor** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:17 pm

mparker762 wrote:Use of a pasted paddle strop can extend the time between honings, but it's an open question as to how far the paddle can extend this interval, but "indefinitely" is an awfully long time. It's probably best to assume that at some point you'll need a hone.

But then probably only a hone with a finer grain count?

mparker762 · Post by **mparker762** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:31 pm

Benefactor wrote:But then probably only a hone with a finer grain count?

All razor hones have fine grain counts. Most guys do rough work like cutting a bevel with a 4k hone. The Norton 4k/8k combination hone will do a good job at quickly setting the bevel, and the 8k side will polish this bevel for a nice smooth edge. Attempting to use a finer hone can take you many hours (the Norton is an extremely fast hone for such a fine grit).

If you really don't want to worry about honing then you can send out the razor to a honemeister when it gets to that point.

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:48 am

It's true that a pasted strop will delay the need for honing, and if done frequently enough a fine Swaty-style barber hone will keep the edge where it should be. There are aggressive metal-eating pastes available - Flexcut Gold will serve the purpose of a fairly coarse hone and quickly at that. It is possible to completely maintain a razor that has its basic bevel formed this way, and I did it that way for some time as I am one of those that have a love-hate relationship with Nortons. Now I have a set of Shapton stones I am finding they suit me well.

Chris

mparker762 · Post by **mparker762** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:05 am

drmoss_ca wrote:I am one of those that have a love-hate relationship with Nortons. Now I have a set of Shapton stones I am finding they suit me well.

I thought I was the only one! I've got the 8k and 15k Shaptons and love them and am seriously thinking about getting a 5k and ditching the Norton for good.

xChris · Post by **xChris** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:15 am

drmoss_ca wrote:... I am one of those that have a love-hate relationship with Nortons. Now I have a set of Shapton stones I am finding they suit me well.

Chris

mparker762 wrote:I thought I was the only one! I've got the 8k and 15k Shaptons and love them and am seriously thinking about getting a 5k and ditching the Norton for good.

Hmm... Very interesting, and something for me to think about.

FiReSTaRT · Post by **FiReSTaRT** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:50 am

I've had great results from my Norton, so it's not going away any time soon.. IIRC, Rich maintained his blades for 2 years without needing to take them to the hone, so it's possible to last a while. Under those circumstances, it would be more practical for you to just pay for honing instead of getting a Norton. I bought one because I knew I'd maintain a large rotation, already knew how to hone and was planning on selling the occasional blade.

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:59 am

I'm on my second Norton 4k/8k - the first came apart and wouldn't stay reglued. But I've not always been happy with the results. The Shapton 2k, 5k, 8, 15k are great and soon the 30 k will be here. Should last me out!

Chris

mparker762 · Post by **mparker762** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:13 am

On mine there seems to be something wrong with the 4k side - it's about the same speed as the 8k side. I got it for ebay work, a task for which my example is about useless.

netsurfr · Post by **netsurfr** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:51 pm

[quote="drmoss_ca"]I'm on my second Norton 4k/8k - the first came apart and wouldn't stay reglued. But I've not always been happy with the results. The Shapton 2k, 5k, 8, 15k are great and soon the 30 k will be here. Should last me out!

Chris[/quote]

Boy, that 30K is pretty pricey! Only have the Norton combo stone but am seriously considering the Shapton stones...

Regards,
Steve

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:34 pm

The 30k Pro stone is no longer available, even though it is still shown on the website. I'll be getting a 5mm thickness of the same material on top of float glass. Half the price, same surface.

Chris

mparker762 · Post by **mparker762** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:03 pm

Why that's practically a bargain!

Joe Lerch · Post by **Joe Lerch** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:47 pm

mparker762 wrote:Use of a pasted paddle strop can extend the time between honings, but it's an open question as to how far the paddle can extend this interval, but "indefinitely" is an awfully long time. It's probably best to assume that at some point you'll need a hone.

I think indefinitely is a good way to describe it.

If you're always keeping the edge optimally sharp, by definition, you're bever letting it dull to the point of nreeding a serious hone. It's like proving a negative, but I think logically you need to remove material from an edge to keep it sharp. You can let it dull and hone, or you can hone a little at a time. Either way, you should end up at the same point.

I can't attest to indefinitely, but I do have a few razors I've kept track of and handled very carefully that have required nothing but refreshing for two years.

Joe Lerch · Post by **Joe Lerch** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:51 pm

mparker762 wrote:
drmoss_ca wrote:I am one of those that have a love-hate relationship with Nortons. Now I have a set of Shapton stones I am finding they suit me well.
I thought I was the only one! I've got the 8k and 15k Shaptons and love them and am seriously thinking about getting a 5k and ditching the Norton for good.

I have the 8K and 16 Glastones.

mparker762 · Post by **mparker762** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:47 am

Joe Lerch wrote: I can't attest to indefinitely, but I do have a few razors I've kept track of and handled very carefully that have required nothing but refreshing for two years.

Using only a paddle strop? Or using a swaty or some other barber hone?

Joe Lerch · Post by **Joe Lerch** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:58 am

mparker762 wrote:
Joe Lerch wrote: I can't attest to indefinitely, but I do have a few razors I've kept track of and handled very carefully that have required nothing but refreshing for two years.
Using only a paddle strop? Or using a swaty or some other barber hone?

Usually, I refresh with just a few swipes (3) on a Swaty.

Scorpio · Post by **Scorpio** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:58 pm

Please send all your Norton hones to Scorpio. Thank you for your support.

I forsee a Shapton buying spree in the future of many...

Raf