Thread: The Hone stone Poll

Currently I use:

King 1k (when this one is done I will move to another brand...it doesn't cut very fast)
4/8k norton
12k Naniwa (when flattening, I have noticed that the ends are lower than the middle even though the majority of the sharpening is done in the middle, which would suggest that the ends should need to be flattened more than the middle, but for me it's the other way around...I know other users have had similar problems and I think it is just a flaw in the Naniwa; so when this one is done I think I will move onto another brand)
& I finish up on crox on leather.

It seems to work but I have never bought a professionally sharpened razor so I can't compare. In order to compare my skills with others, I am in the market for a pro sharpened razor if the style/price is right...I don't like shoulders. Or willing to trade.

I've tried several systems.

Today my go to system is this:
1K-5K-10K Chosera
Y/G Escher
Linen
Leather.

I will change this around a bit depending on the steel.
I could go to my Coticules or my Naniwa SS instead of the Choseras.
For finishing I will use either a Coticule, a Charnley forest or a Suehiro Gokumyo 20K, if I stray away from the Escher.
(that doesn't happen all that often)

Edit:
I'm not sure how it happened, but I forgot my J-Nats. They get a fair bit of use as well.
The Nakayama is wonderful on Sheffield steel.

I run through 1k, 4/8k, coticule, Escher, 1/10 micron diamond paste,.05 micron diamond paste. No stropping. Can I shave off 8k? Yes, but finishing as above is way more finished an edge. For blades made before 1850-70 there seems to be no point in going past the Escher- they just don't improve.
Ed
quicknicker

I've gone Au Natural and have not looked back. See. My natural 3K was someones Chinese 12K that wanted to be a 12K but wasn't. It plays well in my bevel progression so I've included it until something better comes along. Were we voting on final finishers too? I use a variable global combination of "natural" finishers depending on steel and stone. I would like to try out that new Suehiro line but $$ and I would still go back to the nats. I like the fact it takes me a little more time to move through my natural stones... they are more gentle on the blade edges. This is my observation and opinion.
Mike

DMT 325 (for chips/major bevel work)

Naniwa progression with or without slurry (1k, 3k, 5k, 8k, 10k, 12k)

then 1.0 micron diamond paste, .5 diamond, and .5 Cro all on balsa

linen then leather......nice!

I use a Japanese Chroma Type 301 800 medium grit water stone and a Swaty 3-line barber water stone.

norton 1k naniwa 2k shapton 5k coti c12k or soft ark hard ark translucent ark or norton 1k naniwa 2k shapton 5k norton 8k shapton gs 16k

Originally Posted by eleblu05

norton 1k naniwa 2k shapton 5k coti c12k or soft ark hard ark translucent ark or norton 1k naniwa 2k shapton 5k norton 8k shapton gs 16k

WOW, thats a nice mix! Don't you have problems that you mix 3 systems? I would think that it is much easier to hone with a full system, if you already have the stones from 1k to 16k.

If I had to sell most of my hones and just pick one set to use, I'd go with this:

- DMT 325
- Chosera 1k
- Shapton on glass in 1/4/8/16k
- Nakayama Maruichi

Without fail I can always get a great edge with this set up and it works very well for me.

So I guess that begs the question "Why have all the others?"

The answer is twofold: Its fun to experiment and I like to have different options available. The set up I mentioned above will give a great edge, but some razors seem to like Escher edges or respond well to the gentler touch of a Naniwa hone. I've had a couple of DOVO's recently that really took well to a coticule edge, so its really down to the particular blade and finding the combination that works best.

I look at hones like any other tool really. You cant just buy one screwdriver and use that for every screw you come across because, at some point, you're going to come across a Phillips screw when all you have is a flathead screwdriver!

Gentlemen... my set up.

DMT 600 (sure would like a 325 some day... this feeling gets stronger when bevel setting)

Norton 1k

Norton 4k

Norton 8k

'The celebrated water razor hone' Thuringian.

Vintage Norton Razor Hone Red/Black combo. Black side only. (crazy I know but it works)

Linen

Horse Hide

Shave and tweak if needed.

Resulting edges are always quite nice. The best I can create.