Thread: need stone advice

Bram I can do it all on a barbers hone, I have done it, but why?

The right tool for the job makes all of the difference.

Originally Posted by Bram

that's not a minimalist set-up, if you only have to do the one or two razors, and have the time to learn to hone a small 4x10 centimeter coticule will work. bevel setting will be slow but who cares when you only have to do it 1 or 2 times

Did I misinterpret the op when he said " Im buying vintage razors and making them shave ready will this work ? "
You would have to be very lucky/ experienced /knowlegeable/connected to get one coticule to do a full edge restoration with.

In my opinion the OP should take notice of what Oz said but if he can't afford the Shaptons he could do worse than buying a King 1000 and a Norton 4k/8k combo. I reckon the 6000 side of the King should be stayed away from; I've never had a good edge off it. My specimen scratches like b%ggery.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Did I misinterpret the op when he said " Im buying vintage razors and making them shave ready will this work ? "
You would have to be very lucky/ experienced /knowlegeable/connected to get one coticule to do a full edge restoration with.

ok, then I guess I was just verry lucky when I started out a couple of months ago and did the exact same thing as the OP discribes using my smal coti.

but then again the OP's message did say "razors" and I don't know if this is a couple to use him self or if he wants to start a business.

if you realy want to go buget you could even consider a small belgium blue whetstone but since I haven't walked this route myself I cannot recomment or discurage this option, these blue whetstone are aparently more consistent so there should be people out here who can tell you if this is an option. But you can of course just go the synthetic route which is more relyable according to everyone who has used naturals as well as synthetics

Originally Posted by Bram

ok, then I guess I was just verry lucky when I started out a couple of months ago and did the exact same thing as the OP discribes using my smal coti.

Maybe you were lucky. I know that of the few coti's I've owned not all would be suitable as a one hone solution whereas synthetics are a known factor.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Maybe you were lucky. I know that of the few coti's I've owned not all would be suitable as a one hone solution whereas synthetics are a known factor.

Mine either... sigh. I really, really, wanted it to be though!! I struggled and struggled until I could struggle no more! My 1k has to be my favorite rock now because of that struggle lol!!

I guess for me, if I wanted to really go minimal, a 1k, a coti, and a 12k would do me.

To the op, thinking a little more on your situation, I watched gssixgun do a video of him going from a 1k, to a Chinese finishing stone. A 1k isn't too expensive, and I really think no matter what, you need it. The Chinese stone that we sometimes call a PHIG here is pretty cheap too. I think you can pick one up for about 32USD at Woodcraft.

Of course, it'll take a few trys to get it down.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I bought a very nice 1K diamond plate on Ebay (diamondtools30) from a place that sells diamond lapping plate. It is a bit thin, 1mm, but I put it on a wooded bridge over a piece of rubber drawer liner and it is fine. It is very nice even diamond distribution, looks and feels like a skinny DMT. It is a 8X3 plate for $13.80 with free shipping.

A 1K plate, a Norton 4/8K combo, a chrome ox strop and your good. You may have to spend more time on the 4k to get a nice smooth straight edge off a diamond plate. I find 1K diamond plate can cause micro chipping if too much pressure was used to set the bevel. Better to get the bevels flat and close to meeting on a diamond plate, then switch to a 4K to seal the deal.

The other good thing is free shipping and it got here in a little over a week. I bought 2 plates.

Buy full size stones, you will not regret it… especially when learning to hone.

I did similar except I began to despair with the diamond plate and now use it to lap my other hones. I purchased a dedicated 1k hone that was dirt cheap on ebay - $25 if I recall - and consider the investment worthwhile. Sets the bevel nicely and from that it’s easy enough to go through the 5k, 8k, coticule, Arkansas progression that I use.