Thread: Sharpening stones

I have heard a great deal about the fineness of a sharpening stone. Mush of it contradictory! Rioght now my info says that I should own a stone that is 4000 on one side and 8000 on the other. It should be as wide as the razor that I am sharpening and that I shold lay the razor flat on the stone and slowly slide it blade first to sharpen.

How am I doing?

Reb Bahir

Terrible! Just kidding.

The 4K side is used to recreate bevels on old Ebay razors that have not been honed in a long time.

You'll do fine with almost any size and a high grit (8K is a minimum).

Follow the animation on RandyDance's avatar to see how to move the blade on the stone.

The Norton 4K/8K is a good stone for all around straight razor action, you can use a Chinese 12K for touch up work if you already have, or purchase a honed or "shave-ready" blade.

The "flat" part is very correct!

AF DAVIS is 100% correct!

Your getting there!

Go to the Hones forum- Basic and read all the info, also watch the video's by heavyduty on honing and the videos by the founder of this group Lynn Abrams. Then purchase some Ebay junker razors for honing practice.

The Norton 4000/8000 3" wide stone is used by a lot of us.

But..why are you asking about honing stones? Your first razor should be honed by one of us. That way you have a basis for comparison. Purchase your first razor from the SRP classifieds and make sure it is both honed and shave tested. The factory razors are not shave ready contrary to their claims.

Sipping my very first cup of coffee,

I have sent my Dovo away to be honed, it never seemed to be as sharp as it has been described on here.!

I want to be able to hone myself, just a bloke thing I suppose , but I am having trouble getting a Norton stone. It seems everywhere in the UK is out of stock, and the US don't want to send across the water.


Can't wait to get my blade back honed!!

Originally Posted by Evil Bert

I have sent my Dovo away to be honed, it never seemed to be as sharp as it has been described on here.!

I want to be able to hone myself, just a bloke thing I suppose , but I am having trouble getting a Norton stone. It seems everywhere in the UK is out of stock, and the US don't want to send across the water.


Can't wait to get my blade back honed!!

Contact Howard Schechter at www.theperfectedge.com. He ships to Europe and is very knowledgeable. In addition to the Norton stone, you will also have to choose a method of flattening it. You could use sandpaper but I don't recommend it. You can choose between a Norton flattening stone or a DMT 8C, which costs a little more. You can write to Howard and ask his opinion.