About to take the plunge!

Like the title says I'm about to dive head first into the world of honing next month, and am curious on what you think of my initial purchase idea. I've sent razors to SRD twice now, and I can't justify the expense anymore, and I want to be completely self sufficient in this hobby. Without further ado, my potential starter kit.

Nani 1K
Nani 3K-8K combo stone
DMT 325 for lapping

Anything you think I'm missing or should change being a true noob? After I master the 8K I want to look into the 12K Nani also. WAY down the line though....

Your setup is great. I would ask myself if I am going to hone ebay razors and if the answer is yes I would consider a 600 grit stone. I use choseras(made by naniwa) and have used a 12k nani for a while. They are great stones. Your 12k purchase down the road sounds like a sound one. Good luck and welcome!

No expert but that is basically the set up I am using including the Nani 12K and it seems to work.

Bob

That is pretty much exactly the set up I was recommended by another member here, and it seems it's also what bob has as well.

I highly recommend that you master the basics of making lather, stropping and most of all Shaving before you attempt to learn to hone!

You’ve been a member for a little while, perhaps you are up to the task, if you are let me give you some seasoned counsel!

I’m a former meat cutter and I’ll tell you straight up that sharpening a knife and honing razors are as different as black and white! It’s a Whole Different World!

If you are truly ready to learn how to ‘Properly Hone’ your razors I’ll give you further counsel!

First and foremost this Art is all about ‘personal preferences’!

I use the Norton 4/8K and LOVE IT! After being able to get consistently good close and comfortable shaves off of the 8K I purchased the Naniwa 12k and I can’t praise it enough!

I know that others use the Naniwa lower grit stones however I have no experience with them! I have a very good friend who is an excellent honer who had used the Naniwa combo but disliked it as the 8K would easily chip on the shoulders and constantly wanted water!

He purchased the Norton 4/8K and liked it a lot more but felt that the Naniwa 8K gave a smoother finish!

He was reluctant about the Naniwa 12k as he had some of what I call ‘Gucci’ (natural stones/rocks) so I bought one for him and had it shipped to his home! He will tell you what a workhorse it is for him!

As I stated at the beginning, this Art is all about personal preferences!

Enjoy the ride! :tu

PS: I forgot to add that you will need a stone holder for the DMT 325! Trust me on this one!

Great set up to start with,
as Bill3152 mentioned a coarser stone can be handy at times.
For me as my coarser stones need a soaking,
I have found I turn to my DMT with the right touch my DMT8C is capable of a lot
and will leave a blade in plenty good enough shape to take to the 1k.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

I highly recommend that you master the basics of making lather, stropping and most of all Shaving before you attempt to learn to hone!

You’ve been a member for a little while, perhaps you are up to the task, if you are let me give you some seasoned counsel!

I’m a former meat cutter and I’ll tell you straight up that sharpening a knife and honing razors are as different as black and white! It’s a Whole Different World!

If you are truly ready to learn how to ‘Properly Hone’ your razors I’ll give you further counsel!

First and foremost this Art is all about ‘personal preferences’!

I use the Norton 4/8K and LOVE IT! After being able to get consistently good close and comfortable shaves off of the 8K I purchased the Naniwa 12k and I can’t praise it enough!

I know that others use the Naniwa lower grit stones however I have no experience with them! I have a very good friend who is an excellent honer who had used the Naniwa combo but disliked it as the 8K would easily chip on the shoulders and constantly wanted water!

He purchased the Norton 4/8K and liked it a lot more but felt that the Naniwa 8K gave a smoother finish!

He was reluctant about the Naniwa 12k as he had some of what I call ‘Gucci’ (natural stones/rocks) so I bought one for him and had it shipped to his home! He will tell you what a workhorse it is for him!

As I stated at the beginning, this Art is all about personal preferences!

Enjoy the ride! :tu

PS: I forgot to add that you will need a stone holder for the DMT 325! Trust me on this one!

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Yeah been shaving on and off for the last two years, I have the stropping, lather, and shaving down pretty well . I just see this as the next progression in the hobby. For me I guess it is a coin flip between the Nani and the Norton. I don't know enough and have zero experience in honing so I'm flying blind here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TonyM

Yeah been shaving on and off for the last two years, I have the stropping, lather, and shaving down pretty well . I just see this as the next progression in the hobby. For me I guess it is a coin flip between the Nani and the Norton. I don't know enough and have zero experience in honing so I'm flying blind here.

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I've often posted this:

Collecting razors, hones, strops, soaps etc is a 'Hobby'.

The ART of using and maintaining a Straight Razor for daily use is not a 'HOBBY' it's A Way Of Life!!!

:tu :tu :tu

Both cudarunner and my mentor pinklather have spoken to me often, with the intensity of a power driven drill, to enjoy the hobby till you truly feel ready to attack the "Way of Life" and hone your own. I have accepted that interdiction and achieved a compromise when they didn't string me up when all I want to do now is learn to refresh my razors when they need it. I'm older by far than either of them but when in the presence of masters experience counts more than age, EVERY time!

OP

I don't think in the long run there is a hill of beans worth difference if you go the Nani or Norton route, they are both good performing stones from all I have read. I have not used a Norton hone but would not be afraid to get one either.

Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobH

OP

I don't think in the long run there is a hill of beans worth difference if you go the Nani or Norton route, they are both good performing stones from all I have read. I have not used a Norton hone but would not be afraid to get one either.

Bob

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Thanks Bob!

This is what I'm talking about! PERSONAL PREFERENCE! As Glen has mentioned many times in his honing videos;

"This works for me, it may work for you" or at least something close to that!:shrug:

Only problem is it is hard to know what ones personal preference is without exposure to either stone. One of the reasons being a novice and just starting out seems so daunting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TonyM

Only problem is it is hard to know what ones personal preference is without exposure to either stone. One of the reasons being a novice and just starting out seems so daunting.

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You could try and make a meet, or ask around,
if I am not mistaken there are a few members close to you.
That would give you a chance to test drive a few and maybe gain a little hands on help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pfries

You could try and make a meet, or ask around,
if I am not mistaken there are a few members close to you.
That would give you a chance to test drive a few and maybe gain a little hands on help.

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Good Call! Hands on learning can't be beat! The few hours I was fortunate enough to have spent watching Glen hone and show other restoration tips improved my honing 10 fold! Being able to stop him and have him either further explain or show again what he was doing really made a difference and I'm still using the exact same set up as before!

I bought a cheap and alright condition antique store razor to learn to hone with so I didn't screw up my nice blades. I have been pleased with the decision and still use it as my "go-to" razor when trying new things regarding honing. I learned how to shave comfortable off the 8k, then the 12k, then paste/spray. Now I want to up my game to barber hones and natty stones.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MuskieMan33

I bought a cheap and alright condition antique store razor to learn to hone with so I didn't screw up my nice blades. I have been pleased with the decision and still use it as my "go-to" razor when trying new things regarding honing. I learned how to shave comfortable off the 8k, then the 12k, then paste/spray. Now I want to up my game to barber hones and natty stones.

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I think the issue is getting the right hone setup, which is the costly bit.