Thread: Best value in hones

I was wondering what hones you guys recommend. I'm looking for something to start learning how to hone on some not so good razors so I can work my way to up honing the good ones.

What brands are the best value? I looked in the classifieds, but didn't see many at all.

Please see the links in my signature. They will help answer a lot of your questions.

Other than some of the naturals and high end finishers. I dont see many people selling their hones.

Personally, i thinnk they "Get some unknown razors and try to hone them" is not the best approach.

I would start out by just trying to maintain a blade. Then just a refresh. Then maybe move on to bevel sets. Beyond that is resto terrirtory.

I hope all this made sense.

The best bang-for-buck would likely be the 220/1000 4000/8000 stone kit from shapeningsupplies Water Stone Kit

Or you can do what I did and get the 1k, 3k/8k from naniwa available from SRD for about $120

Either one of these starter kits should be enough to hone any razor to shave-ready. Like someone said the other day, if you can't get a good shave from either of these sets, you don't need more hones, you need more practice.

Personally, I've gotten great results from my naniwas from SRD. I did a touchup on the Dovo Bismarck I got from Lynn about six months ago and did 5 on the 3k side and about 10 on the 8k and it brought that edge right back.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Please see the links in my signature. They will help answer a lot of your questions.

Other than some of the naturals and high end finishers. I dont see many people selling their hones.

Personally, i thinnk they "Get some unknown razors and try to hone them" is not the best approach.

I would start out by just trying to maintain a blade. Then just a refresh. Then maybe move on to bevel sets. Beyond that is resto terrirtory.

I hope all this made sense.

Thanks, I guess I didn't do enough browsing on the site before I asked :-/

No worries. I am just hear to help and stear you to the path of enlightenment.

Though i have a feeling you may have more questions after reading

Originally Posted by vtjpvt

Thanks, I guess I didn't do enough browsing on the site before I asked :-/

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

No worries. I am just hear to help and stear you to the path of enlightenment.

Though i have a feeling you may have more questions after reading

haha yeah, there are just a lot of choices out there. Some are a lot better than others.

It's a slow process, but I'm learning a lot

This was the kit that was recomended to me, note I am only passing on the recomendation here.

Amazon.com: Norton Waterstone Starter Kit: 220/1000 grit stone, 4000/8000 grit stone, SiC flattening stone: Industrial & Scientific

Originally Posted by errnest

This was the kit that was recomended to me, note I am only passing on the recomendation here.

Amazon.com: Norton Waterstone Starter Kit: 220/1000 grit stone, 4000/8000 grit stone, SiC flattening stone: Industrial & Scientific

Has it worked out pretty well for you?

I havn't had time to use them yet, hopefully soon I'll get a break in my schedule. Thats why I said I'm only passing along another recomendation.

im a first time honer and after plenty of patience i managed to get my 2 ebay specials shave ready using a King 1k and a Norton 4/8k. i was so nervous it took me about a week off and on before i calmed down,relaxed, and just took my time trying to remember the good advice i'd read and watched.

So the best thing i remembered is dont use any pressure on the blade - after that it seamed to get sharper and sharper after every short (15-20min) session.

Im just plucking up the courage to use the damn things now

ian (the nervous one)