Thread: German Synthetic Hones... HELP!

So in my pokings around on the internet, I found out that Wusthof and Henckels both make hones. My question is, do you think they are high quality? I assume we all know these Solingen companies, and the quality of their blades is second to none. Has anyone used their hones? If not, I know its a gamble, but do you think its a safe gamble, based on company reputation?
Wusthof I think only makes grits from like 200 to 2k I think, but Henckels has a nice progression from 250 to 1k to 3k to 8k in two combo stones.

TWIN® Stone Pro Sharpening Stone - Sharpeners | J.A. Henckels Official Web Site lower grits.
TWIN® Finishing Stone Pro - Sharpeners | J.A. Henckels Official Web Site higher grits

Anyways. I was just about to pull the trigger on some Nortons when I found these. Now, i am always attracted to German things, so I am very attracted to them. I think they also have a great aesthetic. What do you guys think? Too risky? Or a reasonable bet?
Disclaimer, to prevent unnecessary posts- I KNOW this is a gamble, unless someone here has experience with them. I KNOW there is more info about the Nortons. I am simply asking if the quality is a safe bet versus a bad bet. If it is a reasonably safe gamble I like these much better than the Nortons, and would give them a shot.

I guess noteworthy is that it is the same length ans slightly bigger width than the Norton, and a could be wrong, but I think twice the thickness of the Norton combos/each side si as thick as a Norton not combo. Also a little more expensive. But, it doesn't need soaking, though it does need water as a lubricant, and does build slurry.

khaos, I would check for customer reviews if at all possible.

Bri

These hones are for kitchen knives.
I've seen them in shops and would not recommend them for razors.

I'm sure Nortons weren't for razors either... They are tool hones...

Although I'm sure Olivia's right in that they were probably designed for knives/tools, but I think Kaos also has a point. The artificial hones that we use weren't produced solely for straight razors, see this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...ht-razors.html

It seems the suitability of the hone to razors depends on the hardness of the stone and what type of steel is was designed to sharpen.

I'm not saying that these Henckels hones are or aren't suitable for razors, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were very useful for razors. But since there is little information on them, it is kind of a gamble, which you already know.

Do you have other tools to sharpen? If you sharpen other tools or knives then it wouldn't be so much of a gamble, as you would surely get a nice set of hones for your knives at least.

I'm pretty sure that apart from barber's hones, NONE of the artificial hones in use are "designed" for straight razors. The Japanese hones are all designed for Japanese woodworkers' tools and kitchen knives, the Nortons are designed for tools as well.

Any usefulness for straight razors is an afterthought...so why not try these stones out? As long as the grit ratings are accurate, they're probably fine.

Lynn sells you
$58.99 Naniwa Super Stone 8000 Grit in Stand
$42.99 Naniwa Super Stone 3000 Grit in Stand
---------------------------------------------
101.98

Lower price, more hone and a quality that is trusted.

Originally Posted by 0livia

Lynn sells you
$58.99 Naniwa Super Stone 8000 Grit in Stand
$42.99 Naniwa Super Stone 3000 Grit in Stand
---------------------------------------------
101.98

Lower price, more hone and a quality that is trusted.

Can't argue with that kind of logic!

Henckels knives are very good quality commercial knives. I wouldn't grade them as being anywhere near "second to none" but that's my opinion. I sharpen a lot of knives and keep fairly abreast of their offerings. I notice they're now making them in Spain and not just in Germany. Their stones would be optimized for their knives. I wouldn't use them for straight razors except on the low end. I do know what you mean about being attracted to German technology as they usually have great stuff.