Back again, now looking for a new hone.

It has been about three years since I was active on this site. I've popped in from time to time just to keep my name active. The reason for my long absence is my wife and I had a baby. Some things had to be put on the back burner. In all that time I have still been using straights and honing them occasionally. But I haven't had much of a presence here on the forum.

Now that my little girl is getting a little bit older I'm trying to make a bit more time in my busy life for the things that I used to enjoy. Since the time I was last here I acquired a new hobby or two, got fired from my old job and found a new job.

The new job is kind of the reason for this post. New job, more money, more presents for me. Also in this new job I'm not using my computer at work. Instead I just take in a thumb drive and connect that to the school's multimedia system.

That means that my computer now lives on my desk where it is much more convenient to use my usb microscope. This means that I have been honing some of my razors that have been in the "I'll get to them one day" box.

That gets me to the point of this thread. I'm looking for a new natural hone and want a few suggestions.

This is what I have now. A DMT, I think, that I have had for almost twenty years. It has been abused and mistreated often. Used for sharpening anything from kitchen knives to chisels. Now this is my bevel setter. One of the hones I would like to buy is another DMT to replace this.

Then I have a 1000 grit king stone that has also been used for bevel setting. I find this hone to be too soft and need flattening too often. I don't use this one often.

Then I have a Naniwa combination 3000/8000. This one does most of my polishing work.

Then I have a coticule/bbw. I find that I like the edge off the bbw more than the coti side.

I also have a shapton 12000. I don't use this hone very often because it tends to make a mess of the edge under magnification and doesn't feel sharp or smooth.

So what I'm looking for is a finishing stone. Natural stone. Not Japanese (I'm not ready to go down that rabbit hole yet). At the moment I think I will use it just as a finishing stone and not for one stone honing.

So what would you all suggest? Thanks for your help.

Inexpensive - chinese 12k, but one in a mujingfang box. I've had the best luck with those (not that I've bought that many, but out of the five I've bought, the two in that type of box are better than the others).

Medium - by a translucent arkansas or a good black (dans, nortons, NW "trans black") off of ebay. Different learning curve, but as much potential as any stone there is if you use it "slicked up" and with a little bit of pressure to counter its slow cutting (it won't damage anything to use moderate pressure)

High Mid price - check with alex or a reputable dealer somewhere else and ask for the best thing $200 can get you in a jnat barber hone type stone with some kind of tomonagura. As in best performance for a guy honing some razors, not necessarily most collectible or prettiest. (I know you said not japanese, but with a decent dealer, it doesn't have to be a rabbit hole. you can get one good stone that works well and be done with it. The characteristics of various stones are different, but after linen and leather, the edges off of the fine japanese stones are somewhat similar)

You can go up the ladder from there in price, but the results won't be any better from something more expensive.

(here, btw, is the muji box http://www.finetools.com.au/products...ne-13-000-grit )

I got one from woodcraft years and years ago in return for evaluating it, and the second I got from a seller on alibaba. The others I got between those two from other sellers weren't as good.

Get the 20k Suehiro Gokumyo and you'll be a very happy camper.

Another option would be a fine Thuringian, there is one offered hear on the classifieds today by Peter(hatzicho).
They typically do a fine job after a good 12K edge.
Very good suggestions from Dave and Stefan as well.

Other naturals would be apache strata, welsh hones and charnley forrest

Yup, as said the SG20 or a good Yellow Green Thüringen.

The SG20 is pricy, but worth the price, whole other level from a 12k.

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Originally Posted by ndw76

I also have a shapton 12000. I don't use this hone very often because it tends to make a mess of the edge under magnification and doesn't feel sharp or smooth.

So what would you all suggest? Thanks for your help.

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"I also have a DMT. I don't use this hone very often because it tends to make a mess of the edge under magnification and doesn't feel sharp or smooth."

Fixed that for you ;)

I can get a crazy sharp edge off a Shap 12k but it's easy to get it wrong thru pressure &/or too many strokes. It's not a 20k or Jnat smooth edge but some CrO makes a world of difference.
You already have 2 finishers but maybe need some practice in getting them to work. A new stone may/may not improve the edges you have atm.

+1 Thuri great edge after a coticule. Then strop on leather only no linen. I also did coticule strop on linen and leather then thuri strop on leather only and had even better results.