Thread: Bare minimum honing equipment needed?

Originally Posted by jnich67

Yes you can get a very acceptable edge with just the Norton combo. And without going nuts on various finishing hones, you can also get some chromium oxide paste on a flat leather or wood surface and you're golden.

Jordan

After I finish up with the Norton I use Dovo red wax on one side of sheet of Balsa on the other its green rubbing compound. I use my thumb and the mowing test it passes both.

Tim

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

Fpr the minimum in honing equipment and for an undamaged edge I'd say get a coticule bout. That's what I started out on and it cost me somewhere aroun €20. So that's not too bad.

+1 on that.

I did very same when I first started out. The coticule is so versatile.

You can hone with a slurry, with it dry and with water. It's can be quite an aggressive little hone with slurry.

You could get a cheap bout or go a little extra for a 6x2".

Originally Posted by shotwell1234

The norton stone does not come flat from the factory and must be to hone razors properly. You can do this with a flat surface (try a marble tile) and some wet/dry sandpaper.

Can you explain this a bit further? I just bought a norton 4k/8k with the same idea as the guy that started this thread. Do i have to sand down my norton before use? with marble and sandpaper?

Give this a read.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...t=hone+lapping

Any stone unless guaranteed flat should be lapped before use. Sandpaper on a flat surface is one way. There are detailed instructions around here somewhere.

Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale

What grain size is a coticule?
cheers M

I'm not a 100% sure. But most people place the coticule between 6k when using a lot of slurry and 8-10k when using little/no slurry just water.

There's a lot of good advice here, but don't go hog wild. Every one here is correct in their own way, they all will work but you only need one.

The coticule has different grades If I remember right, so if you decide that route, ask around and make sure you get the right grade.

I use the nortons, and although they will provide a good edge, it is still a bit coarse for my tastes.

+10 on getting a TM paddle with paste. This will take your edges to a new level, and are worth every penny.

I have several hundred dollars invested in hones at present, and still want more.

But if I had to start over, on a tight budget, I would buy 2 stones. one for setting bevels maybe a Norton 1k/4k and a good versatile finisher like the coticule.

I would later add a 4 sided strop with 0.5 CrO and 0.25 Diamond paste.

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

I would later add a 4 sided strop with 0.5 CrO and 0.25 Diamond paste.

Does the .25 do much more than the .5 CrO? I have the CrO but not the .25.

FWIW...

You might have a look at this kit by Norton. It has the stones everyone told me I would have to have to get shave ready results from even the ugly antique store finds. It comes with a 220/1000, a 4000/8000, and a flattening stone (solving your flattening/lapping problems described above). The stones are the recommended 8"x3"x1" dimensions and come in cases that double as stands.

There is no super fine 12,000 grit fishing stone here. That being said, I am assured by people I trust here that the Norton 8000 will produce a perfectly acceptable shaving sharp blade and from what I have seen I believe them. Thats not to say the 5 billion dollar Belgian Coticule doesn't improve the finish on a blade or anything... I am sure it does but its well out of my price range I am afraid.

The DVD that comes in the kit it geared towards wood workers who want to sharpen their tools, but its interesting even if its not totally applicable to what you will be using the stones for.

Shop around... I bought mine for $109 with free shipping from a site that subsequently raised the price to $135 the day after I bought it but great deals are out there. I don't think you can beat this deal for 'bang-for-the-buck' performance.

I'd like to thank you all gentlemen. Some great answers.
I like the 1000gr sandpaper idea, I used something like that on a Norweigen Hunting knife once, I managed to get a good edge on it, if a little untidy as I had no guide.