Thread: Honing starter kit - Norton 4k/8k alternatives.

I like the single grit norton 4 and 8k. The 8x3 size gets the job done more quickly than a more narrow stone because the edge is in contact with more abrasive throughout the stroke. If a warped blade is encountered they can be turned up on edge and the 1" side be utilized. In using the naniwas and shapton pros in the past I liked them but found I had to lap them more often because the polymer binder goes out of whack .... IOW ... not flat. I don't encounter that with the nortons.

So after trying a plethora of hones I've come to the chosera 1k for bevel setting, if it is even necessary, and the fore mentioned nortons. I've sold the rest of the synthetics. I happen to have a few eschers and coticules and I like them for the finish. Leaves a gentler edge for my sensitive skin. YMMV.

Well I came to honing razors from honing knives so I started by using what I had a 1k/6k King combo. The King was only about $35 shipped from an Ebay vender. I have since gotten a Norton 8k and I love it. The King 6k sent me to finish with pasted flat strops(crox). The Norton 8k will easily take my razors fine enough to be stropped and shave ready. Very light pressure and nearly dry stone results are mirrored finish and polish on leather to a comfortable shaving edge. If I was starting over a Norton 4k/8k would be my first purchase. Now I have some skill honing a Belgian Coticule is calling my name.

I also come from knife sharpening and have 15 to 20 hours of razor sharpening under my belt that being said I don't think you will go wrong with the naniwa 3/8k super stone originally i did not like this stone for my knifes and was going to give it to a friend due to the swarf build up in the stone.However since I've gotten into straight razor honeing i have found this to be a great stone for razors the stone has a soft touch that compliments the razors and there is very little swarf from razors that compliments the stone.It seems like the naniwa ss were made for razors plus they require no soak time they are a splash and go stone and this is nice. keith

Thanks for all the great tips, it seems norton would be best for me since I might want to use it for sharpening other knives as well.

Ingiald I wouldn't recommend using a razor hone for knives. The technique honing a knife doesn't require the lapped surface which works so well with razors. Knives tend to have edges which aren't very straight which causes the contact point of the blade to be changing across the stone. This can result in much greater uneven wear than the razor causes. You will find yourself lapping your stones frequently with the accompanying increased wear each time you work a razor. One 4k/8k Norton or the 3k/8k Naniwa SS should last several lifetimes of razor honing and while you will likely be infected with the HAD bug one of those stones is all you really need.