Originally Posted by
Lynn
I normally tell new guys that when the razor starts to pull, try 5-10 no pressure strokes on chromium oxide or .5 diamond followed by 50-60 regular stropping strokes on leather. That should re-fresh a razor for quite a while and can be done numerous times. When that quits working, then a finishing stone like the Naniwa 12K, Shapton Glass 16K, Coticule, barber hone or even the Norton 8K will work either on their own or followed by the paste or spray and then stropping. Again, just 5-10 no pressure strokes on the stone. A razor can be maintained almost indefinitely like this. An alternative is a finishing pyramid on the Norton 4K/8K.
If you feel you just have to hone, I think that the Naniwa Chosera 1K, Norton 4K/8K or Naniwa SS 5K/8K or Shapton Glass 4K/8K followed by the finisher of your choice is the optimal set up simply because, in my opinion, this set up for most people has brought success the quickest. Honing like shaving is not something that just happens because of the stones you decide to buy. They all have a learning curve after you develop a good stroke, figure out what no pressure really means and learn how to use your individual stones.
Keep in mind that we all have preference on how a stone feels and performs. Some like softer feeling stones like the Naniwa SS, some like harder feeling stones like the Shapton Glass, others like different stones including Naturals which can be used for the entire process after bevel setting. The cost of these stones all vary. It is really hard to determine what you will like too unless you have some insight to your tactile abilities and preferences already. Add this to the overwhelming volume of information out there today along with others preferences, bias and agendas and you're in for a journey. To me, it has always been worth that journey.
Have fun.