Another Beginner: When stropping isn't enough? Hones/honing?

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Originally Posted by markevens

THe norton 4k/8k combo is a beautiful hone for razors. Yes they need lapping, but any hone you get you will want to lap. I don't think you need to lap them every use either, that is a bit overboard.

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Yeah i suppose. there are videos online of the norton where the person's 4k side is 1mm thick!

Would cheaper chinese carbon straights like this or a Kreigar do for practicing sharpening? or would there be no point experimenting with a cheaper blade? basically $15 convexed straights.
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/w..._lam/jh777.jpg

You can use the same tools and techniques on razors that give you hair-whittling sharpness on your knives.

Well up to now i've been using a rather makeshift setup. I have a norton cryostolon, a cheap $14 hard arkansas, and the med/f/uf rods layed flat on the base of my sharpmaker. i finish with loaded strops (CrOx and AlOx).

I've been trying to assemble a proper setup. I would have bought a DMT 8" C/F/EF and a spyderco for finishing before, as it is a good progression for my knives. However, now that i've got a straight razor, i would like to have a setup that could work for both purposes. Thing is, i don't know whether the spyderco UF is suitable for finishing/touchup of razors, or whether DMT F -> spyderco UF is good enough for restoration.

Your setup will work just fine for straight razors too. A straight razor is nothing more than a specialized knife. You can get more sharpening stones, etc. if you like (most of us do, because it's so fun) but it is not necessary.

Cheers,
Jeff

I do actually enjoy sharpening to begin with, which is why i'm planning on getting a proper set. If i was only into razors, i definitely would focus more towards the higher end, just because even setting the bevel only requires what i would consider an already fine stone.
However i do need a relatively wide spectrum of stones as i sharpen everything from kitchen knives to s30v pocket knives as well, so my budget must be stretched to encompass all that (at least for now).

I want to start with a progression that will get the job done, but has room for improvement later.

my current thinking is this:
DMT 8" continuous C/F/EF
Spyderco F

after reading this rather fascinating thread: I am considering swapping out the EF dmt with a EEF dmt, As it seems like going from EEF to spyderco UF is sufficent for setting a bevel and finishing for a comfortable shave. However for my other knives i'm not sure what going from DMT F to EEF would do for the scratch pattern, other than taking a really long time.