Thread: Hone help..?

I usually recommend Norton 4/8 because bang for the buck it is a good buy. The whole 8x3 stone. Not some scam of cutting them up and selling a hone that is too short to really be efficient. Anyway, some of the best shaving razors I've ever had were done with the Norton 4/8. At one time it was virtually the only game in town save what were then rare and scarce naturals that have since become much more common.

The Shaptons, Naniwas, Choseras and other synthetics have only become available in recent years. Any of them will do the job but the 4/8 Norton is probably cheaper by comparison and a darn good razor hone. Get a Chosera 1k , a dmt 325 D8C to lap them, sharpen your kitchen knives as well, and you have all you need. Get to where you're shaving well off of your 8k edge and look to add a finisher. Naniwa 12k is nice.

Anyway, if you can't get good edges with the Norton you won't get them with any of the others. It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian.

I am at best a novice honer, but will offer what has worked for me to get shavable edges.

I use a lapped Norton 8K to touch up my edges, then use about 12 strokes on a leather paddle strop with 0.5 u diamond paste.

I finish with about 30 strokes linen and 50 latigo leather. I often use my hanging strop laying flat on my sink base top for better control. Smooth and even is the key.

I test my edge by tree topping arm hair. I repeat the unpasted stropping, if necessary after a shave test.

When the 8K stone does not work well with the stropping, I drop down to a 1K stone until the razor passes a TPT with visual inspection of the bevels. After a positive TPT, I work my way back up the progression.

I like the diamond pasted strop, It gets me a shavable edge with my current level of proficiency using hones. Diamonds work well on my stainless razors.

HTH

Regarding your question of lapping, many have suggested (and I use as well) wet/dry sandpaper on something flat (piece of glass is probably the cheapest). If you're looking for budget lapping this seems fairly cheap.

As the moderator has said, a Naniwa or Chosera 1K and a Norton 4K/8K are sufficient - followed by an unpasted strop.
If this is not working, more gear is not the answer.
That being said, I do like to go to higher grits.
I am very fond of Welsh purple slate. It comes in several varieties/grits - from 8 to 15K.
The price is quite reasonable.
There are numerous other good finishes, but they are generally more expensive.
ebay site:
NEW SHARPENING HONES, VINTAGE UK HONES items in GREEN SHARPENING STONE SHOP store on eBay!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I usually recommend Norton 4/8 because bang for the buck it is a good buy. ...
Anyway, if you can't get good edges with the Norton you won't get them with any of the others. It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian.

+1

If you are not used to hone you take the risk that the first time you go on the stone you damage your edge, so stay very light. For this more reason I would advice the Norton 8k because I find it is a bit slower than the other synthetic stones (then less dangerous).

For the last same reason I'd rather take a natural for touch-ups, not a chinese because its quality is varying too much and you never know before you get it. You can find some cheap and good british slates on the bay.