Thread: Beginner Hone Setup

If I were seeking to hone razors, kitchen knives, and pocket knives, all from the same set-up, and for a relatively small cost, I would be inclined to pick up an 8" x 2" soft/hard black Arkansas combo from Sharpening supplies for ~$75USD. You could either use their dedicated, food-safe honing oil or cold-pressed olive oil as a honing medium. Use the combo stone straight out of the box, don't bother lapping it. The black side will smooth over with continued use, but the soft Ark side should be continually refreshed with emery cloth to maintain some cutting power.

A synthetic water-stone alternative would be a King or Suehiro 1k/6k combo, followed by a pasted strop, either the T-I alox/diamond crayon or the red Solingen paste (tube or crayon). Cost there can range, but with the pasted stop added, it still should be ~$75USD. For starters, use w/d 320x sandpaper on glass to lap the stone as needed.

Note: I have downgraded the high-end in my recommendations as kitchen and pocket knives would also be sharpened, and in wanting to maintain a limited budget as mentioned. All the same, these should get you to decent shaving. The black hard Arkansas, once smoothed, is an excellent finisher, as is the T-I crayon or Solingen red stuff.

I have Naniwa 12k for occasional touch up, which is not needed often if I strop before/after each shave.

I did actually buy the Norton set with 220, 1000, 4000, 8000 and if I restore a razor or find a nick that needs smoothing out, I do a hone before using the 12k.

I did meet with a mentor who showed me all I need to know to hone, and it really is easier than you think.

But if the blade is already honed, a 12k of any sort should maintain that edge for a long time.