Thread: Education

Are there any books that are good to use as a guide for learning how to hone?

Here's a start.

https://sharprazorpalace.com/honing/...ml#post1445990

It is specifically about Japanese stones and methods but it is one source to consider. Also there are barber manuals that many refer to. Personally, I learned mostly by reading online sources including here.

Weren't you looking at the Naniwa set ??

This might help you out, it works on the Shapton sets too but we did the experiment with the Naniwa SS hones

https://sharprazorpalace.com/advance...iwa-users.html

I watched your touch up video with the 12k naniwa on youtube

I currently have the 1k-12k shapton pro stones started out sharpening knives and got interested in SRs but not sure if they are very good for SRs

I think I am leaning toward the dark side with Paul Faus currently looking for a good hard arkansas stone too

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Originally Posted by Cattleman02

I think I am leaning toward the dark side with Paul Faus currently looking for a good hard arkansas stone too

I'll say this...Arks are most suited to knives and tools, until u reach Hard black/surgical, or trans ark. They work great for finishers.


But then there's the Washita. The most versatile of them all. IMHO. They'll set a bevel, and thru the use of different lubes,( oil, water, lather, ect.) some can hone up to near 8k. Usually a well burnished hone, of course.

Two Arks I recommend to get: (okay there are actually a buttload but these are the two I recommend most)

Norton No 1 Washita

...and either one of the following

Pike Hard Arkansas (transluscent)
or
Dan's Whetstones Black Arkansas

Oh, and get them boxed if possible.

Oh yeah, add to that suggestion: try to get them in 6" or preferably 8 " if possible. Of course the larger the more expensive and harder to find they are. You can use 4" stones but it's easier with at least 6 inchers

Between those two, you can go a long way. That No 1 Washita is probably the most versatile single stone of the Arkansas group, really of any stone I'm familiar with. As Mike pointed out, you can go virtually from bevel set to near finish on it alone with some practice and the proper lapping and lubricants.

One other Stone I would add to that list if you want to do a full Arkansas progression is what's known as a "calico Washita" those are becoming really hard to find though, ones of any size at least. Between those 3 stones lapped correctly on either side you can go from too dull to cut hair at all to blisteringly keen, too sharp really.