Thread: 8K Norton is not enough.

I consider myself a competent straight razor shaver, but much less than that with a hone. A few months ago I purchased a Norton 4K/8K hone and struggled just getting a usable edge. I have since obtained a usable edge but it is only "usable". My professionally honed edge is superior. It seems obvious that the next step in the evolution of my learning curve is to move into a finer grit stone. I am looking to invest in that stone but the options are not only spendy, but confusing. So here is the question:

What is the best bang for my buck in regards to my next purchase towards my quest for the perfect edge?

ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT...

A Naniwa Chosera (now called Professional) 1k.

If you cannot get a comfortable shave off of the 8k, no higher grit hone is going to fix it. It will only thin your wallet.

Originally Posted by Utopian

If you cannot get a comfortable shave off of the 8k, no higher grit hone is going to fix it. It will only thin your wallet.

This, a thousand times over.
You can get excellent shaves off the 8K. If you can't, it means something went wrong before that.

I was given some advice from Glen to master one stone honing. I bought a chosera 1k and learned to set a bevel I spent 80-90% of my time on the 1k. Then created a heavy slurry on a phig and with practice I got my edge to cut arm hairs at the arm level,then bought some chro-ox and my strop sequence and shaved smoothly...now I have a norton 4-8k and my edges are sticky sharp after 8k and stropeing. Doing is believing good luck.
Take care.

Last night I started my new approach at this. I was told by a non SRP member that since the razor in question was just needing a touchup, I could just do so on the 8K. I believe this was MY mistake. The original bevel is different than my new one. After about 10 careful passes on the 4k I inspected the edge and immediately noticed a mismatch between my new bevel and the existing bevel. It seems that I was indeed chasing my own tail. so I set into slowly re-setting the bevel. After about an hour I had a very even new bevel. I can easily shave arm hair with it and it is much sharper than after my last attempt. Tonight I will continue with the 4K for a bit and then attempt a test shave.

For the first time I can actually feel a hydraulic suction between the razor and stone which tells me I am on the right path.

I believe that the error in my original conceptualization was that finer= sharper. when, in fact, finer =smoother.

I can cherry pick too. Each of my sources are cited.

Originally Posted by dickerydee

Not sure where this magic 8k number keeps coming from.

Asked.

Originally Posted by dickerydee

Where did this 8k level ever come from?

Asked.

Originally Posted by Straightandproud

I consider myself a competent straight razor shaver, but much less than that with a hone. A few months ago I purchased a Norton 4K/8K hone and struggled just getting a usable edge. I have since obtained a usable edge but it is only "usable". My professionally honed edge is superior. It seems obvious that the next step in the evolution of my learning curve is to move into a finer grit stone. I am looking to invest in that stone but the options are not only spendy, but confusing. So here is the question:

What is the best bang for my buck in regards to my next purchase towards my quest for the perfect edge?

This was the ORIGINAL ask by the guy who started the thread. He was the guy we were trying to help. Also, he's the guy who bought the Norton hones. That is why we are discussing them. If you read his question again, you may understand why the 8k is the primary focus.

Originally Posted by dickerydee

What are you saying about the Norton 8k that I'm not understanding?

Asked.

Originally Posted by Utopian

If you cannot get a comfortable shave off of the 8k, no higher grit hone is going to fix it. It will only thin your wallet.

Answered.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I can cherry pick too. Each of my sources are cited.


Asked.



Asked.



This was the ORIGINAL ask by the guy who started the thread. He was the guy we were trying to help. Also, he's the guy who bought the Norton hones. That is why we are discussing them. If you read his question again, you may understand why the 8k is the primary focus.



Asked.



Answered.

I disagree with extreme prejudice that if you can't get comfy off 8k that a higher grit stone will only thin your wallet. That's the koolaid at it's best right there. Claims like these have no place in the world of sharpening.

I am happy with my 8k edge but have been tempted to go to a finer hone. the only thing that stops me is a statement i read saying that any finer stone only gives a improvement of a few percent. Lynn shaved off a 8k for years before going finer. My question is would I even notice a difference at this point in my honing skill?

You know here is some real advice instead a bunch of "Opinion"

Cubancigar on here is thinking of having a Honing Meet in Nampa, myself and a few others are planning on coming

I will be bringing MULTIPLE finishers and other stones

Why not wait a couple of months during winter save some money up and then decide what to plunk it down on after you try a few out in person''

You might also pick up a few tips & tricks at the meet

http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...ion-idaho.html

Gosh, Glen, I wish it could be gotten across to new shaver/honers that if they don't try the 1,4,8k challenge, starting with what makes it all possible, a freshly set bevel, all the finishing stones are going to do is give them a very smooth edge that may not really shave the way they think (or hope) it would.

My myopic eyes were opened to true sight when, not having direct one-on-one training, I went that route. The only thing I added to the sequence was after each grit I did 10 very, very light laps on a Naniwa 12k. It went from a decent, acceptable 1k shave to the 8k/12k light finish to DDFS (thats double damn fine shaves.) Sure, some day, finances permitting, I'd like to have a finer grit that would give me the psychological boost of really feeling like I accomplished something. But the hard reality of it is 8k w12k finish is the Gold Standard.