Thread: Naniwa 5000, 8000, 12000

Originally Posted by boostdemon

How many razors are you planning on honing? If you're just starting out, a full set of lapping films and a piece of tile from the hardware store will probably be the best bang for buck. Imagine getting a 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k, 8k, 12k, and 16k for about $8. rickboone gave me a sheet of each that he gets in packs of 25 from specialized.net i think he said. I haven't tested them out but i'm about to this weekend.

I have a Norton 4/8k that i do just fine getting an edge good enough for shaving with. 4k till its set, 8k till its smooth, then chromium oxide pasted linen, plain linen, sticky leather strop, fast and smooth leather strop... perfectly good edge that lasts.

I agree lapping film produces great edges and costs a lot less than a set of hones.. I have a set up chosera..1,3,5, then 10,15 , 20 suehiros.. And a norton 4/8 combo.. But when I started I bought a king 1k and the norton 4/8 combo.. There is a ton of info about the norton on here it's the janorton thread.. If I had to buy a starter said again it would b lapping film..u can hone and absolutely hate it and be stuck with hundreds of dollars in door stoppers... U can hit the honing wall and never climb over it.. My two cents

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

I agree lapping film produces great edges and costs a lot less than a set of hones.. I have a set up chosera..1,3,5, then 10,15 , 20 suehiros.. And a norton 4/8 combo.. But when I started I bought a king 1k and the norton 4/8 combo.. There is a ton of info about the norton on here it's the janorton thread.. If I had to buy a starter said again it would b lapping film..u can hone and absolutely hate it and be stuck with hundreds of dollars in door stoppers... U can hit the honing wall and never climb over it.. My two cents

If you haven't abused them list them, I do not see how you are stuck.
Yes an investment but no where near the loss of using it as a door stop.

Guess ur right .. What I meant is if u realize honing isn't for u u may b taking a loss in the resale of what u bought..

Thank you all for the advice. I think I am going to take Avenolpey up on his offer to give his hones a try. I will let you guys know what happens. You guys are all awesome! Stand by for lots of questions when I get my hones. Lol

Originally Posted by earcutter

With all due respect: this makes no sense to me at all!?

If your face has the final say on what's good, and we all agree that a 12k feels better than an 8k... then a 12k is better than an 8k and a noob should strive to get the best and smoothest edge no?

Can an 8k shave be good? Sure. But do we send out razors to be honed by pros and tell them but wait, I am a noob and can't hone well, so stop at 8k? No! Of course not. We ask to get the best edge they can give us - that means a finishing stone.

So what if a noob can't get an edge off an 8k? If that's the case and they did have a 12, it just means they'll have to go back an extra stone lol!

I started a thread on the logic behind telling noobs to stop at an 8k - I get why people say it kind of. But the reality is, the learning curve on synthetics is pretty fast. Get the 12k now I say - avoid the shipping costs lol! You can always stop at 8 if you want to with a 12. Without one you'll have no other choice lol!

Speakin' the stone cold truth, brutha.