Thread: Hone Purchase Advice

Completely new to honing, but wanting to get into working on some vintage razors. I am fairly new to straight razor shaving, but have been getting some great shaves and am using a honed SRD Ralf Aust with great results. I know what it feels like and how to use a shave ready razor and recently picked up some vintage razors for cheap on eBay that are actually really good condition overall (clean Boker and Dovo). So, I am looking to add some hones to the collection ...

So my question is what would you guys recommend as a good economical startup set? My initial thoughts are the Norton 220/1000, 4000/8000 set (SRD carries at what looks like a good price) and maybe a Naniwa SS 12k? Any better suggestions for a newbie or better deals? I definitely want to play we at least one of these eBay razors to set a bevel and take up to shave ready, but I also want a good finishing set up to keep my Ralf Aust up to speed once Stropping with spray doesn't seem to work as well anymore.

Take a look here,,,,,,,

Beginner's Guide to Honing - Straight Razor Place Library

Originally Posted by Shaotzu

So my question is what would you guys recommend as a good economical startup set? My initial thoughts are the Norton 220/1000, 4000/8000 set (SRD carries at what looks like a good price) and maybe a Naniwa SS 12k?

The Nortons are what I began with, still use sometimes though I've widened my selection of hones out since then. Two of the best honers in the world, that I know, still use the Norton for the 4/8 part of the work more often than not. So for an economical setup I think that is just fine.

I would suggest holding off on the 12k until you find you're getting a DFS (damn fine shave) at the 8k Norton level. That is the way I was taught anyway. Also, though the Norton lapping plate works, a DMT D8C diamond plate will last eons, is much more efficient, chances are it will be flat, and you can also sharpen your kitchen knives with it.

You could not go wrong with that set up, except for the 220, you will never use it, or at least should not use it until you have much more restoration experience.

In place of the Norton 1K, I would spend the few extra bucks and buy a Chosera 1k, top of the line 1K.

The Chosera 1K, Norton 4&8 K, a 12K Super Stone and a D8c DMT plate and your set for life.

Norton are a good place to start. If you can swing the chosera 1k you will never need another 1k. I found a few razor I could not sat a bevel on with the norton. Never with the chosera. Setting a proper bevel is 99% of the honing. After the bevel its just poloshing. So whatever you go with you will great results. Norton 4/8 combo then a chinese 12 k is good. The chinese 12 k is cheap. Nanawa are great to. You don't need a 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9k stones. Its ok to go from 1k to a 4 norton.

My original synthetic stone set up was a King 1K (decent stone for less than $20) which I still use on occasion and a Norton 4K/8K. This humble set was all I needed to cut my chops in the art of honing and I was able to put some pretty good edges on my blades using nothing else but a strop.

After I knew what I was doing I sold the Norton and picked up a few Naniwa SS stones in 1K, 5K, 8K, and 12K. Pretty much end game here (as far as synthetics go).

Later on a Welsh slate (vastly underrated stones), BBW, and a Zulu Grey were added to my coticule kit. But that's another story. I have never used sprays, pastes, or film. Probably never will....

I'd skip on the 200/1k Norton and get a 1k Chosera instead, the rest of your list looks good.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I would suggest holding off on the 12k until you find you're getting a DFS (damn fine shave) at the 8k Norton level.

I'm mainly thinking the 12k to help maintain good razors . . . but good idea of working to get a good shave off the 8k.

That's part of the reason I was asking - the set of the Norton 4/8k comes with a Norton 220/1k, and I can't see using the 220, so is it still worth it? Going to look around and see what i can find, but might go to split the set and go with an individual Norton 4/8, Chosera, etc.

That would be best. After getting my chosera the norton 1 k has never been touched. Actually my 1 k shapton as well. The chosera is the best bet for a 1k