Thread: My head is full of hones...help :)

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I bought an atoma 400g lapping plate, can't compare it myself to a dmt but I was recommended it over a dmt by a few members here, I am happy with it, though I think the DMT's are cheaper.

A most excellent choice.
I have both, and there is no question about what plate I prefer

So after reading more info in the hone forums last night I'm set on the Norton stones as so many people have had such good success. Trying to be cheap and save a few bucks with hones, is it practical to go this route? Or am just being too cheap? Honestly they seem solid but I am also concerned I will be learning bad habits, as Larry states " Even though short X passes are possible, you will probably use more circular motions than you would with a larger surface hone". Again my head is spinning with information and my wallet is forcing my hand. I truly would appreciate any feed back

Quarter 1.5" x 4" Norton- $60

Even though the hones are smaller than a full size hone, they are 50% larger than the average barbers hone. You will have no problem honing straight razors. Even though short X passes are possible, you will probably use more circular motions than you would with a larger surface hone.

This "Quarter Norton" hone set includes the following items:

Norton flattening stone (1-1/2" by 4-1/2")
Norton Two-sided Hone 220/1000 (1.5" x 4")
---- Norton 220 grit hone ... gray color
---- Norton 1000 grit hone ... brown color
Norton Two-sided Hone 4000/8000 (1.5" x 4")
---- Norton 4000 grit hone ... white color
---- Norton 8000 grit hone ... yellow color

Originally Posted by g60madman

Snip...

Quarter 1.5" x 4" Norton- $60

Even though the hones are smaller than a full size hone, they are 50% larger than the average barbers hone. You will have no problem honing straight razors. Even though short X passes are possible, you will probably use more circular motions than you would with a larger surface hone.

This "Quarter Norton" hone set includes the following items:

Norton flattening stone (1-1/2" by 4-1/2")
Norton Two-sided Hone 220/1000 (1.5" x 4")
---- Norton 220 grit hone ... gray color
---- Norton 1000 grit hone ... brown color
Norton Two-sided Hone 4000/8000 (1.5" x 4")
---- Norton 4000 grit hone ... white color
---- Norton 8000 grit hone ... yellow color

For USD 60 that doesn't sound much of a deal to me.
The flattening stone is crap, you won't need the 220 side at all, and the rest of them makes honing much more complicated than it needs to be due to their size.

There are far better options out there, and if it's not a viable economical option just now, I would recommend to save up for proper gear.

Originally Posted by Birnando

A most excellent choice.
I have both, and there is no question about what plate I prefer

I love the term "most excellent", very bill and Ted. Cheers birnando, its nice to know I did good. Almost everyone else seems to go the DMT, but I got advised quite strongly to go the atoma route. It lapped my 10k nani really quickly, 5 mins or so.

My small barber hone is 4 x 2. They are small stones. Get them full size 1 by 1 if you have to they are going to last many many years.

Re the quartons, there are at least a few threads about them, I don't think anyone will suggest that you buy them.

A man walks into a parachute shop & the sales man tries to sell him an umbrella.
Worked for Mary Poppins, right ?

You can't compare Barber hones to sharpening stones. I've honed on 1x4" DMT's & I can tell you that using small stones will teach you lots about creating uneven sharpness & frowns till you get it right.

Is that your choice for a learning path ?

Barber hone for size compare only. I agree they are chalk and cheese. Both of my thuri's are 5x1 and to learn on was time consuming and frustrating. One little rock of the blade and start again. Def want your A game.

Originally Posted by Birnando

Another route could be to drop the 4/8.
If you are going for a Coticule, then I would rather have a 1/4 Norton combo.
This way you should be covered from bevel set to finished razor.
That, and a DMT/Atoma diamond lapping plate should be all you could ever need

With the 4-8K Norton you will always have someone to help you! The Coticules are usually a good stone, but like any natural stone they do take a while to find the right style of honing for you and the steel and the stone.
I find I get good shaves from a Coticule but it took a while to get the hang of it. After I used it for a while I can put a good shaving edge on a recently shaving reset in a very few minutes.
There are higher grit finishing stones but 4- 8k and or a good Coticule can be all you will ever need. If you are setting bevels on bought used razors a 800 to 1200 grit stone in addition will be a godsend.
YMMV as most of ours does!
~Richard

With a big checkbook.