I'm asking this for someone's Grandson who is getting into straight razors. Basically it's this, what stones could he get at a good price? Maybe a set so he wouldn't have to order separate stones. Also what strops could he also acquire at a decent price?
Great strop, $50 .. Tony Miller plain chocolate. Decent strop, Whipped Dog poor man's kit. Comes with a pasted balsa strop to help keep the edge between honing... $25, but will eventually want a proper/full size strop. As far as hones, that opens a while new can of possibilities. He won't need any at first, and should become proficient at shaving and stropping first. A good finishing hone ( Naniwa 12k ) would be a good starting point. Learn to refresh an edge, then to hone. A full set of Naniwa stones is a few hundred dollars. (1, 3 or 5,8,12k will be a good set) On the cheap, and functional.. king 1/6k combo ($28) Chinese Natural ( $30-$40 ) and a true finisher, like the Naniwa 12k, will get the job done. I originally used a king 1/6 and CNAT followed by chromium oxide pasted balsa with good results. However, now I have a full set of Naniwa Super Stones, and Shapton pro stones... So really don't use the older set up. And then there is Lapping film... Cheap, works well.
Read this over. I've had very good results with my set-up. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/inexpensive-straights-hones-strops-etc-for-beginners.52233/
If you want to buy once. Either a Naniwa 1K and a Naniwa 3&8 or a Norton 4&8. You can get a nice shaving edge at that point. For an added kick the Naniwa 12k or any natural finisher.
Skip the stones and hones at first. Get a good strop. Have the razor honed professionally until one can master SR shaving. Once you know what to do with a straight razor and how to strop it effectively and efficiently, then one can possibly consider delving into honing. Trying to master all three aspects (shaving, stropping and honing) simultaneously makes the job considerably more challenging and frustrating, IMO.
Stones can wait. Lapping film is a cheap alternative if you are just looking to refresh an edge (vs. setting a bevel and doing a full honing progression.) Get some sheets of 1 micron lapping film, a flat piece of glass or ceramic tile, a spray bottle, and you are all set. You can use some paste on a strop or a finer grade of lapping film if you want to put a finer touch on the edge than what the 1 micron will provide. Very small investment.
I started without any stones, just a strop and pasted balsa strop. I agree just learn to shave first, learning to hone is harder than learning to shave, at least it is for me. In the beginning if he needs to fix the edge send it to a pro, while you are learning to shave you need to know your edge is good.
My goto recommendation for a Strop has been the same for many many years now Google: Illinois #827 or #127 same strop different finish #827 is a Russian rougher finish with a heavy draw that I personally love #127 is a slicker smoother draw that works just fine especially for a beginner They both have a fine weave linen component that actually works and works VERY well after it is broken in .. They should be under $50 delivered to the door There is a huge thread about Hones and what each user needs on here in the sticky on SR shaving, but I also don't think a hone in a beginners hands helps the learning curve in the least.. Stropping is a much over looked skill mostly because people rush to the hones
Agreed. Affordable & quality. Built-to-last. All these strop postings have me re-reading my typed input as auto-correct has me constantly advising newcomers to "....strip before each shave"....
