Thread: Basics for synthetic hone set

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

What happened to the classic Norton 4/8 combo?

Nothing .

I prefer the Chosera 1K, Norton 4/8 then a finishing stone.

Buy one really good natural hone (not a sole endfinisher) that is able for wide range honing (a good coticule or Jnat i.e.), learn how to hon with it and you can skip nearly all of this one grit synthetic hones -maybe with exception of the 1 k that gives you a defined bevel and starting point.

Plus the others.
Chosera 1k, Superstones 2k, 3k, 5k, 8k, 10k then either a natural of your choice and or the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k.
There is no brand that could lay claim to be the best. Shapton for example have excellent progressions in either glass or pro versions.

Originally Posted by hatzicho

Buy one really good natural hone (not a sole endfinisher) that is able for wide range honing (a good coticule or Jnat i.e.), learn how to hon with it and you can skip nearly all of this one grit synthetic hones -maybe with exception of the 1 k that gives you a defined bevel and starting point.

I did this for many years with a Washita and a coticule/bbw. Only had two razors during that time frame so the only time that I had to use the Washita was when I would get a chip or ding.

I was in the same boat earlier, debating the different synthetics, talked to many of the folks on this forum. I ended up buying the Shapton Kuromaku's 1K,3K,5K,8k and 12K, so far I'm pretty satisfied with this set-up.
All that said, once you get the honing bug you always want to try something else! But this is a good way to get started, probably more than you really need unless you plan on doing a lot of razor restorations, but with a set like this or the Naniwa's you can handle just about any razor task. After all the stone work a good strop is essential, I purchased a 3-inch wide red latigo from SRP and really like it!
Good luck with your choice!
Stay sharp!

1K, 4K, 8K 12K for synthetics or after the 8K either JNAT or Coti for a natural finish.

Recently I've been using my Naniwa superstones again, because of things earlier mentioned, I did notice the 1K to be a very fast cutting stone and to be used accordingly.

Lately I've been using also a Coticule, the one I have is an extremely fast stone. I can't finish wel on this stone, but it's an amazing bevel setter, super fast and great edges coming off that stone.
So instead of my Naniwa 1K I'm using a very fast Coticule on slurry.

From the Coticule I go to a BBW with slurry to perfect the bevel, or I just skip the BBW and go the synthetic way. After the BBW I also go the synthtic way and go to a Naniwa 5K - 8K and finish on the 12K. I then go to either an Escher or a Coticule under running water. The Escher gets "sticky" rather fast coming off the 12K and I know I got a good edge when I get that feeling.

So I can share the sentiment most people on here have, a synthetic line-up with a natural finisher at the end (I also prefer to start with a Coticule)

For me the challenging part lies in the zone between the perfected bevel and the finishing. In a progressive honing setup where I use natural stones, I use other synthetic hones to fill that void to make my life a little easier.

Originally Posted by hatzicho

Buy one really good natural hone (not a sole endfinisher) that is able for wide range honing (a good coticule or Jnat i.e.), learn how to hon with it and you can skip nearly all of this one grit synthetic hones -maybe with exception of the 1 k that gives you a defined bevel and starting point.

I have recently aquired a Nakayama Kiita with two tested tomo's ( pre finish and finish ) and i believe I could use a 1K and this Kiita and be done, really need to test this theory.