Thread: Ready to purchase

Such a big range on price of the 1000k, see a norton for like 35, what can a better stone like the chosera 1000k do?

The Chosera 1k feels really smooth, cuts pretty quickly, and is a "gentle" stone. It doesn't wear much.
The SS 1k is also smooth and gentle, but doesn't cut as quickly. I remember mine wearing pretty quickly by comparison.
The Norton 1k is pretty gritty, and I'd say cuts a bit rougher. I remember mine being a slow cutter. Don't remember about how it wears.
The King 1k is pretty smooth and rather gentle. I think mine was faster than my Norton. It wore faster than than the Norton, but slower than the SS I'd say.

Do bear in mind I haven't used the SS, King, or Norton 1k in years, so my memory may be a bit off.

Are you getting really good shaves yet? Might want to learn one thing well them
N move on,, but if you must really all you need is a 12k to start and learn to maintain your edges, if done properly you may never need to see a lower stone. I gave razors that have a hundred or so shaves with nothing but 2-4 laps on a 12k once in a while and stropping, to be honest if all you do that s shave I St see how all these guys are honing all the time unless they have some messed up edges, once their honed right it last until you really do something silly. After you have mastered the 12k you will have a great understanding of what your edge should be then take on something really bad. But to each his own, I got a lot of money in hones and I never have to use them, after sending them out to be honed they don't need it anymore. Work your way backwards, 1st the 12k. Then a decent 3/8 combo, then a good bevel setter. Tc

Is it smart to get one of the stone holders, are they pretty universal amoung all stones?

Yes. Tc

Originally Posted by Lumberjack55

Such a big range on price of the 1000k, see a norton for like 35, what can a better stone like the chosera 1000k do?

It really depends on how much you plan on using your 1k. The Norton works, but it is annoyingly thirsty. No matter how deeply you have it submerged, it remains thirsty. While you are honing you constantly have to add water to it. It works, but I don't like it.

The Chosera 1k, now the Professional 1k, cuts great, does not load up, and is not thirsty. Among the bevel setters I and others have used, it is universally considered to be the best. Now, you do not necessarily need the best if you are not going to use it very often. The Naniwa Traditional 1k and the Arashiyama 1k both work great, nearly as well as the Professional 1k, for half the price.

Add a King 1k and switch the 10k to a 12k super stone and you are set for life…

“what can a better stone like the Chosera 1000k do?”

Good questions, pretty much, just feel smoother. The finish is pretty much the same and really does not matter, because in a few minutes, you will remove the finish on the next stone in the progression. All 1k’s do the same thing, and a $20 king will leave the same finish as a $80 Chosera.

You, have to remember, none of these stones are created or produced for razor honing, we make up a very small part of the market. We just make do with a very small percentage that work for razor honing

"Is it smart to get one of the stone holders, are they pretty universal among all stones?"

Not really, for years I honed on a 3X10 piece of pine with a piece of rubber drawer liner under the board and between the board and stone.

They lift the stone off the workspace, to give your hands some clearance. I use a Steelex stone holder but, just rest the stone on the holder, and never tighten the rubber mounts to the stone.

If synthetic stones are your choice. You want repeatable exceptional edges, then equip yourself with a progression you won't need to change for the foreseeable future try this: Naniwa Chosera 1k, the Naniwa superstones 3k, 5k, 8k, then jump straight to a Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. It does work, and of course you must have a quality 8k edge before going any further. Some wish to go to a 12k Naniwa before the 20k, but INMHO you don't need the 12k and the20k. This progression works. If for some reason you feel you must have a12k then so be it, but I don't think it's a good spend.

Originally Posted by Lumberjack55

Why do they have a 10k if you can jump to 12, my assumption is other people are coming from different grits and that would be safer then a 12k for them.

because the hones aren't only for razors. depending on what is being honed a different grit might be more suitable.

Ok now I feel like I've heard some on how you have to prep new hones before your first time use. It comes with some crap on it you have to scrub away. I can't seem to pull up any information on it, can anyone shed some light on this for me?