Quote Originally Posted by rhensley View Post
You'll get a lot of different answers here. So Here's mine. I started out with razors honed by a pro. one of the best. but after acquiring so many razors I decided to start honing my self. So I watched all the honing videos I could and the one that really caught my attention was the one by Lynn Abram with the Naniwa stones. I started with the 3/8K naniwa and from there I added the 1K for a bevel set and the 12K for a finisher. Let me back up and say I did buy the 4/8 Norton. I really didn't like it and I really can't give a good reason why I just didn't like it. Now the Naniwa stones were different for me. They were a lot easier to us and I got a shaving edge quicker especially after watching Lynn on his videos. I since added a 5K I use between the 3 and the 8K and the progression is working. I also added the Seuhiro 20K for a better finisher. A little pricy but it's my hobby. What ever stones you decide on you will need a lapping system. a lot of folks use wet dry sand paper on a flat surface like granite counter tops or the like. Good luck and I hope this might help in some way. I really should also say that if all you want to do is touch then the 12K should do it or if you can find a barber hone like the swaty then you set. but if you want to really start from the bevel seting then what I suggested will do great or at least it did for me.
I have a 1 inch thick glass table and 220 wet/dry I lapped this 12k on last night.
Do you know how nortons shapton and or naniwas grit ratings campare ?
Quote Originally Posted by Utopian View Post
Do you intend to do more than touching up blades? That is, do you intend to hone dull blades? If so, then how many would you intend to do?

If you only want to do touch ups, then you don't need anything more. If you only intend to hone a few dull blades, then you can do that with a more coarse lapping film. You really would only need the lower grit hones if you intend to do more.
I buy an eBay bread knife every one to three months.