Thread: Looking for first set of stones

Hello,

I've been straight shaving for a while now, and my PIF'ed razor is in need of a honing. I've been wanting to learn the hart of honing ever since I got in to straight shaving.

I'm primarily looking at synthetic stones, as from what I've gathered it seems easier to get consistant results with them.

My first choice was a Norton 4000/8000 combination stone, they seem to get alot of love. Along with the Norton I was thinking about a Chinese 12k. I was also looking at a Naniwa kit, but the price is putting me off a bit.

I will of course also be getting a lapping stone, looking at the DMT 325 at the moment.

But I am in need of advice. What would be a total rookies best bet? I'm not on a budget, but I don't want to shell out any outrageous amounts on my first hones, I don't even know if I'll like it.

Any help or advice is welcome.

Best regards

Naniwa makes a 3/8 combination, which if you don't need to bevel set. Then you could add to it later with the 12k and 1k. and I agree with the DMT 325 as a lapping choice.

I started with a Norton 4/8 and Chinese 12k. I did not learn how to set a bevel on the 4k side of the Norton and the Chinese 12 did not work for me. So this set up to me was frustrating and I quit trying.

The Naniwa stones were my fool proof honing attempt. I have the 3k,5k,8k,12k. I added the Chosera 1k for bevel setting and the DMT 325 for lapping.

It was worth the investment as it has made honing pretty easy and interesting. Too they are so easy to learn on that I've built confidence I can move on to other ways of honing in the future.

+1 to Hanzo.

I'd say most definitely get the DMT 325. Your stones will need lapped when you get them.

A Norton 4/8 is a good budget friendly choice, but I don't like how soft the 4k is. More so preference than quality. I'm more of a splash and go stone type also. I own the shapton glass series and they work very well but can easily create a fin/burr very quickly. But I would try the naniwa series 3k and 8k because I hear they are more novice friendly.

Then get yourself a good 1k bevel setter like the Chosera 1k or shapton 1k or 2k.

That will get you by. But if you want a finisher look at the naniwa 12k. And then save and get a suehiro G20 if you want to go a little further after getting some practice in. .

That's my 2¢. But be careful. HAD is very contagious and you will be wanting more.

The 4/8 Norton is all you need. Unless your going to start restoring and collecting piles of razors a King 1k will serve you very well.
If you want to tip toe into this then get a barbers hone to keep what you have going. All the skills of honing can be learned on that and they can be found all over the place. I shaved off that Norton for a year before I drop any serious change into stones and I still didn't go too crazy. I have the luxury of having friends around me with every kind of rock you can read about so I have tried more than the average guy.
If your one of those that like all your ducks in a row, and from the same family, then start out with Naniwa and proceed as you learn. I have heard all the opinions and listened to all the reasons. That is about as middle of the road as I can come up with. Enjoy yourself. It sounds like you are being smart about all this as compared to running on emotion. That alone will save you time and money.

The Norton 4k/8k and the Cnat/PHIG/"Chinese 12k" are almost all I ever use. On the rare occasion that I bring a truly dull blade to life, I start on the Norton 1k…but even those I used to start on the 4k, it just takes time.

You can start with the classic norton 4/8k if you live in the American continent. For anywhere else, the naniwa ordered from Japan would be a cheaper but also reliable choice (US post is expensive for overseas orders). And then, if you would like to, you can add a Chinese stone with a naniwa chocera 1k. If you happen not to like the stones or honing, you can sell them quite easily and get back most of your money.
I started with a king 1k, a Belgian blue and a Chinese stone. It was fun, and I still use that Chinese stone.

Originally Posted by Vasilis

I started with a king 1k, a Belgian blue and a Chinese stone. It was fun, and I still use that Chinese stone.

Thanks for calling it a Chinese stone. As a natural stone, it has no grit designation.

The Norton 4 and 8k is all you need to start. If you cannot get a shave-able edge off of the 8k, NO higher grit hone is going to fix your honing shortcomings. If you intend to do a lot of honing, a lapping plate is very helpful. If honing is going to be a rare thing for you, then a couple sheets of wet/dry sandpaper is all you need.

The above responses all have merit, however let me suggest another route.

You could have the razor professionally honed and then invest in that Naniwa 12K.. and stop there for a while. Assuming that you don't drastically damage the razor - banging it on something, for instance - you can keep it in top notch shaving condition with touch ups on the 12K SS. (I would avoid the chinese stone.) Later on, if you realize that you are truly hooked on the sport and you want to start doing rescue work on ebay or antique shop razors, you can add the stones recommended above.

Seriously, barring physical damage, a razor needs to be honed only once. After that we can maintain it forever with our finishing stone(s).

Unless, of course, you want to hone just for the fun of it.. that's a whole other animal. I follow a "6 for 6" regimen: after 6 shaves I give the razor 6 strokes on whatever finishing stone I used and never have to hone again. I find myself, however, inventing test sequences so I can compare edges from different stones just to be able to hone something. But I can quit anytime I want to, honest!


rs,
Tack

tack has a very good approach ,, not a lot of money in having it honed right then maintain it ,, you only have the one razor ? this is the best advise , except for the one 10pups gave you,, a barbers hone is inexpensive and if you cant shave off of it then your honing skills aren't going to get any better with more hones ,, Ron and Pup told me to try a barbers hone I received the other day , and I don't hone at all after more than 2 years into this , but I used this barbers hone on a razor due for a refresh. as instructed and I have shaved off of it for 4 days . it has produce a nice shaving edge so think about it. most guys are wanting to hone before they even know how to shave or what a truly shave ready is , so go the cheaper route and see what happens , ill say this ive not spent much money having my razors pro honed and after that they don't need anything but leather or a few strokes on a 12k naniwa or my Zulu for who knows how long some are 2 years old and still going. just my thoughts oh and by the way thanks to Ron and Pup for the advise it was an eye opener