Thread: New Hones

It always depends on your budget and how you want to spread that budget.

There are several systems. And if you want to keep things simple it is best to stick to a system until you understand how different hones may have a slightly different effect on a bevel even when your going from one hone directly to another with everything seemingly identical.

The systems that appear most often and that are easiest to get would be.

Naniwa super stones.
Naniwa chosera
Norton
Shapton
King


If you are looking to setup and have funds that are available then I would pick your first stones to sit at about 3-4K and 6-8K. In doing this you avoid the expensive 10-12K range, And when you can shave from 6-8K you know that you are ready to add in the next stone to get that little bit more.

My first stone was the King 1/6 combi. This is a super budget stone that works. The 1K is a little bit too course and acts as more of a bevel setter, but the 6K side is good enough to shave from. After 6 months of shaving I was already looking to replace the 6K with a Naniwa progression 5, 8, 12K. The 1K side is still in my rotation until I replace it at the end of the year.

The other solid option for a budget stone is the Norton 4/8K combi. It has a good following on here and is generally regarded as a benchmark stone. Things are either better or worse than this stone. It's a little more expensive than the king, But for the money you get a wider thicker stone.


If your wanting to avoid the budget range and step up Your choices change a little. You need to be looking at your finishing stone and buying the lower grit stones now so you can just drop in the final finishers at a later date.

You have several options.

Shapton do a full range of stones.
Naniwa super stones have a full range.
Naniwa Chosera have a full range.
King have a full range but the top end is less suited for razors.


Naniwa super stones would have a purchasing plan that looks like this.

8K + 5K first quarter. £100
12K third quarter. £75
1K + 3K Christmas. £90

Or if you can afford the full system in 1 go £265.

The 5 and 8K stones are needed for shaving. You can shave right off the 8K with some stropping. The 12K just take the edge to the next level, and the 1 and 3K stones are for when your looking on ebay and pick up razors that need the edge totally resetting.

With Naniwa Chosera the 12K is reduced to a 10K stone since there is no 12K Chosera, These stones are regarded as been better than the super stones, The super stones are fantastic in there own right.

Regardless of the system you choose you are going to need a lapping plate. A diamond 325 or 400 grit plate that is guaranteed flat is your best purchase. Ezlap, DMT and Atoma all do suitable plates. This plate should be seen as an essential part of your system without it you cannot guarantee the surface of your hones. Get a plate that is at least 8 inches long and at least 2 inches wide.


Your also going to learn to hone with 10pups, Give him a call and ask for 2 sessions. The first on his rocks so you can have a feel of them, and the second on your own rocks. Chances are he will have a few stones to show you, and you will like 1 more than the others. He might not be cool with this so ask him first.

I think you are doing yourself a service by thinking out the system you want.

I kind of went piece meal, even overlapping some knife stones with some straight stones... and though it all worked out, a system when starting out really helps! Put some thought into strops and any kind of pastes you might want too. There are more than a few pastes that for all intents and purpose, are backward stepping if you have a 12k finishing stone. Pastes and strops should in my opinion N.O.T be an afterthought!!

Were I to do it over, I would probably get Shapton's. I was worried that I would break then when I was deciding, but the truth is, all stones are fragile! The glass backing I think would aid in "flatness," and I understand they last longer.

I know norton are available at SRD. Where can I find Naniwa and Shaptons stones.

If 10 pups is going to coach you... follow his advice and buy what he recommends, so you are both on the same page.

Really it does not matter, they all do the same thing and technique is way more important than brand name.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

If 10 pups is going to coach you... follow his advice and buy what he recommends, so you are both on the same page.

Really it does not matter, they all do the same thing and technique is way more important than brand name.

+1. see what 10 pups is using and get a feel for them. I've tried most of them and like the norton 4/8 best of that grit range, but they are all good.

The only suggestion I would make is don't pass up on the chosera 1k.. It's costly for a bevel setter but it's just to me the most important step in the
Entire process is bevel setting..and chosera IMO is the goto 1k stone or bevel setter

I use a Naniwa 1k,5k,8k and 12k, just 'cause that's what Lynn used in his Super Stones video. I like them, they were my first stones and fairly easy to learn on. I do wish the 1k was just a tad more aggressive, but I do recommend them.

I use Chosera 1k, Norton 4k/8k combo, Naniwa 12k finisher. I highly recommend Chosera 1k as a bevel setter. Having done much research myself and from first experience, I think Chosera 1k is a reliable, consistent bevel setter that you'll enjoy using.

As for the Norton 4k/8k combo, you really need to lap down the 4k side. I lapped down 1/8 of an inch off before it became "smooth enough."

Hope this helps!

If you don't like the cost of the Chosera 1k, the Arashiyama 1k is about half the price and is a very good bevel setter. It takes a couple minutes to soak in enough water to stay wet, and is a little more aggressive than the splash and go Chosera 1k, but it does a good job and the serrations left by it are easily removed by a Norton 4k. One downside for it is that much fewer people have it when compared to the Chosera 1k, so you will have fewer people available to ask about it.

In the end, they'll all get you there. It's really a matter of personal preference and your budget. I like the idea of seeing what Jerry's using. Try those, see how you like them. Take that into consideration before you buy. Many of us have bought several sets of hones. Like Jimmy, I've personally tried most of them and finally stuck with the Shapton GS series stones for synthetics. They're fast and efficient. I find the Shapton 1k to be a fine bevel setter, but still use the Chosera 1k from time to time for stubborn bevels.

Happy Honing.