So, a known dealer sells "quarter sized" Norton hones for $60. A flattening and two combos 220/1k and 4k/8k. Hones are 1.5x4 inches (cut down Norton combos) thoughts on this as an entry level set?
Thanks much
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So, a known dealer sells "quarter sized" Norton hones for $60. A flattening and two combos 220/1k and 4k/8k. Hones are 1.5x4 inches (cut down Norton combos) thoughts on this as an entry level set?
Thanks much
I'd go full size.
For me small stones = uncomfortable to hone on, and I'd imagine for newbies it is even more of a problem.
I guess this would be a good example of where a Necropost would have done well...:D
One of many threads on this, here's one from 2013:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...oning-set.html
I could tolerate a narrow hone (in fact some folks prefer them) but a short hone, never. That's why I regard most barber hones as a joke. Hones are one thing that has changed for the better in the last hundred years. Full length hones are now relatively cheap. My advice is don't deliberately hobble your honing technique by trying to fit your strokes into a 10cm/4" space.
Some folks will come along and say it works fine for them, but I'd say they'd be a minority. I'd say it could be done, but would be a handicap. The full size hone is worth it in the long run. (no pun)
Narrow hones can be useful for dealing with problem honing but in general and for someone starting out full sized is the way to go.
Yeah!Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
It would be a serious handicap to a novise or seasoned honer alike.
Sure, it'll work to an extent, but it does not sound much of a deal at all to me!
I though about it also. Have a short stone. Takes twice as many laps and increase in time. Conversely I Just purchased a 1K/220 combo Norton for $50ish
It was a game changer for me with regards to time invested. A baby hammer will drive a nail. But it increases the likely-hood that you will bend the nail in the process. Same principles apply to this situation. I bumped many a blade on the flip with the mini hone. points to consider.
being fairly new and not as experienced as most on here i would have to say that with short hones i would have pulled my hair out before it had a chance to be shaved off ..lol..
i have just recently felt confident in small(er) hones and by no means am i a master honer but i would never recommend a small stone to start with( from my own personal experience) .. im glad i made the investment in full size at the start and dont regret it one bit
Like almost everything else in this game...the cheap way in, is rarely economical when you get there.
Full size kit 140 bucks:
http://www.amazon.com/Norton-Waterst...ening+stone+8k
No point hobbling yourself with overpriced quarter sized stones. If you do the math, he's selling those stones for twice what they're worth.
The kits are good but not all of it is necessary. You don't need the 220 and the flattening stone will need to be flattened and maintained and you will have to be careful not to leave grit on your stones. It is better to replace it with a diamond plate. Both 1k and diamond plates can be gotten cheaply and then you only need the 4/8k. Remember that these stones can last a lifetime so choose for long term use. Good luck
I immediately thought of the thread by rvshaver(?) Who lives in an RV and was thinking these would save him space in his house, i don't think even he went down the route of buying them. The theme with pretty much all of the threads I have read about these is that they are a poor investment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phrank
For $120 you could get a serviceable 1k level hone and a coticule. Cotis aren't nearly as tricky as some lead you to believe and you don't have to hone on a claustrophobic piece of synth that will load 4x faster than it normally would.
He has the right to sell them for whatever he chooses and Caveat Emptor remains for every buyer. That said, your calculation is only valid if you assume they are "worth" one quarter of the cost of the full size hones. I think they are worth less.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal
I never said he didn't have the right to sell overpriced hones. I just said they were overpriced. I could justify paying 1/4 the cost for a 1/4 size hone because that's about right for pocket knives. But for our intended purposes here, I suppose you're right. I can agree with you on all 3 points.Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
Thanks for pointing it out anyway ....... a lot of new guys come along thinking the 1/4 hones might be a good deal but, as you say, if it seems TOO good to be true, it probably is. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal
To be clear, I was just making my attempt at being tactful and critical of these hones at the same time while actually agreeing with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal
I had a feeling that was the case, and that's how I read it. Mostly I responded on the off chance it wasn't sarcasm. I'm sure you know how that goes, sometimes the meaning tends to get lost in text.
I agree, except I wouldn't have bothered with a space between the last two words.Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
JMO...
Yeah that was intended as a double entendre.
I had no intention of dredging up this thread again but I was asked a question about the quarter hones that led me to visit the website.
I was dismayed to find THIS statement.
Quarter 1.5" x 4" Norton- $60
Even though the hones are smaller than a full size hone, they are 50% larger than the average barbers hone. You will have no problem honing straight razors.Even though short X passes are possible, you will probably use more circular motions than you would with a larger surface hone.
Now that is patently not true. The area of the quarter hone is 6 square inches (1.5x4=6).
Let's review basic algebra.
6 is 50% larger than what?
6 is 150% of what?
6=1.5*X
6/1.5=X
X=4
So the claim is that the area of the "average" barber hone is 4 square inches.
So the "average" barber hone could be
2"x2"
or
1.5" x 2.7"
or
1" X 4"
Now, do any of those sound seem to be the size of an "average" barber hone?
I own quite a few barber hones. Anyone reading this is going to have to trust me that the true average dimension of a barber hone is pretty much that of a Swaty. Those dimensions are 2" X 5" and so its area is 10 square inches.
So the true average area of a barber hone is 250% greater than claimed (4*2.5=10) and that quarter hone actually is only 60% of the size of an average barber hone, not 50% bigger.
In reality the quarter hone is about half the size of an average barber hone.
Good luck with that.