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

Well done. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to try things.

Ultimately, I find myself "edge" tinkering all the time.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Well done. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to try things.

Ultimately, I find myself "edge" tinkering all the time.

I am a tinkerer

I figure, knowing me i'll eventually end up with a whole bunch of hones. however i've been contemplating the large UF stone for a while now, before razors as a finishing stone for my knives. since i'm going to be buying a whole new sharpening setup for kitchen knives, pocket knives, tools, and stuff with my christmas money, i thought i'd pick up a finishing stone. i just don't know what to think about the UF stone. If all the reviews said the same thing; that it needs lapping (which voids warranty), or that they are terrible for razors, it would effect my decision. However there are so many darned people who have had good experiences getting comfortable shaves right off the UF stone.

the only reason i am not just buying the norton 8k and to hell with it, is because of the points out saying that they wear, and many posts recommend lapping at every use, something i can't imagine doing when i want to touch up my pocket knives or occasionally my razor.

I've mentally separated "comfortable shave" from "perfect edge", it's hard to draw the line in the literature on the various hones.

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.

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.

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.