Thread: My current collection of hones.

One thing I dont get is if you have the stones, you can learn them , if you dont, then you can never learn them. So is there an upside to having less stones? I dont think so, as one stone is too many if you dont use it.

Originally Posted by bill3152

One thing I dont get is if you have the stones, you can learn them , if you dont, then you can never learn them. So is there an upside to having less stones? I dont think so, as one stone is too many if you dont use it.

What you say is true AFAIC. The thing to watch out for is not to get into HAD early on. Get your basic setup, whether it is norton, naniwa, shapton ...... learn on the basic setup before going for more and more hones. I suppose most guys do that anyway. IME if you get too many too soon it is difficult to discipline yourself to stick with a setup until you learn it, and move on to the next.

Eventually, if you stick with it, you'll learn them, but it just is easier to learn one variety well before getting a bunch of 'em. Once you've got the basics down with one set of hones it is far easier to figure out other rocks. I always go back to what jazz saxophonist Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker said, "Master your instrument, then forget all that stuff and play." Master the set you have, then venture out into the different rocks.

I know that feeling. You start honing and then you start collecting hones and if you are unlucky like me you collect even more hones and for honing you have no more time.

If you could only keep 2 and you had to drop the rest into the ocean which 2 would you keep?

all of them

Originally Posted by JOB15

If you could only keep 2 and you had to drop the rest into the ocean which 2 would you keep?

Hmmm not so easy to answer, so I will give you answers.
As I have a few razors that are NOT honed up yet it would have to be 1) The King 1/6 combi and the Norton 8K.
If it all my razors where honed up and only maintenance/touch-up required then 2) prob both Charnley forest hones as I could always sell one and fund another purchase lol, joking aside one CF and the dalmore blue, not much use for touch-up but it looks great and not so easy to come by these days.