Thread: Honing Stones..

To add another option: search the forum for Glen and Lynn's thread on one stone honing. They mention it is also possible on a synthetic 8K. That way, you may be able to get by with just the Naniwa 8K and paste, and purchase the 12K later on if you feel like improving your edges.

Originally Posted by kwlfca

Lynn recommends only 4-7 strokes on chromium oxide. I've never used it myself, I have a nani 12K that I use to refresh (although some use both). Here's Lynn's vid for a bunch of refreshing methods .
Both Lynn and Glen (gssixgun) have awesome videos on youtube for honing on all sorts of media (nortons, naniwas, shapton, cotis etc). I've watched them all countless times and are a huge help when learning to hone. I recommend them highly!

Thanks for that.
I think i can forget about being a cheapskate. I wouldnt buy a cheap razor so ill end up spending loads as normal.
I think i will give it a lot more thought before i purchase anything.
First up i wanna get some green oxide in a stick like Lynn uses in the video, be it a smaller version. I also have to make a decision on the Naniwas vs the Cotis.
I think the Cotis looks more interesting to me at the moment. My brother has the norton 4/8 and the Naniwas 12k , plus more. I think the belgium stones might be more of a skill ....

It's possible to use just one stone. If you buy a coticule and starts with slurry and slowly dissolve the slurry with water. There's a fair amount of videos out there...

A coticule would be more versatile in my opinion. They come with slurry stones and, like I mentioned earlier, you could use varying amounts of slurry to get faster cutting speeds. A heavy slurry is usually comparable to a 1K for many coticules. Slurry on a coticule will also level off at a certain point and prevent you from overhoning. You could basically dilute the slurry when the steel is ready, all the way up to polishing stage. After that, do 5 laps with the chromium oxide that you want and see where the edge stands. Maybe do an extra stoke or two if it needs it after that.
Looking back, I wish I had gone this way for my first stone. It will probably be my next stone though, so no worries.

This is probably the single most toughest decision i've ever made
Seriously i cant choose between the Coticule or the Naniwa stones.
I want the Coticule but there are factors putting me off. It cannot give an edge like the super stones. However the Super stones are boring in comparison to the Coticule.
I suppose i should just buy the Naniwa 8k and 12k and maybe a touch of diamond spray and just get on with life
I only need to refresh my blades rarley.

I started off with a coticule and never quite mastered it in just over half a year. Synthetics are simply more reliable, and indeed, more boring. Myself, I'm saving some money for the Shapton 4K and 8K, having tried a few naturals that I just cannot seem to get a sharp enough edge off.

I've decided to go with the shaptons.. If i was buying just 2 shaptons which 2 would i need. Considering i only need to refresh my blades now and then and ill finish with a bit of diamond spray .5 ...
I think the grit numbers arnt equal to the naniwa stones..

You are right the grit numbers are not equal, as far as I know, the Naniwa 12K and Shapton 16K are the same particle size. With the 8K and 16K you should be able to refresh your blades and bring back slightly dull ones, I strongly suggest buying those. What I've read about the 30K is not encouraging: it leaves an edge that is almost too sharp for a comfortable shave.

Originally Posted by Laurens

You are right the grit numbers are not equal, as far as I know, the Naniwa 12K and Shapton 16K are the same particle size. With the 8K and 16K you should be able to refresh your blades and bring back slightly dull ones, I strongly suggest buying those. What I've read about the 30K is not encouraging: it leaves an edge that is almost too sharp for a comfortable shave.

Yeh i was thinking about those numbers.. I would love the 30k but the price is too much, maybe one day down the line but thats why i think the diamond spray would be a nice touch to the finish and diamond spray is near enough free compared to the price of the 30k shapton..

True. In fact, Lynn shows in his Shapton honing tutorial that he does the exact thing you suggest: going from 16K to 0.5 micron diamond, deliberately leaving out the 30K. I heard someone describe the edge off a 30K as "a big heavy Feather". Too scary for me!