Thread: Buying a New Set of Hones

I use a 4000/8000 aluminum oxide stone lubricated with oil to sharpen and repair knives, but I can not use this stone to maintain a sharp edge on any straight razor because it is much too rough on them. So, I was wondering about purchasing the following:

JAPANESE WATER STONES SET OF 3 - eBay (item 170365829099 end time Aug-05-09 12:05:10 PDT)

However, I can not find any research on that brand and do not see myself needing to use an 800 on a straight razor except something that has a canyon in it. I was wondering if anyone had used these stones before and any reccomendations for an alternative (under $100 please).

For about $115 on amazon you can get the Norton starter set shipped to you

220/1000 4000/8000 and the lapping stone

This is more than you will actually need to get you shaving sharp razors, or it is a great set to start with should you happen to get bit by the honing bug....

I just double checked and you can almost get the 1k and the 3k/8k Naniwas for that price too so that is another option

Well, those are WAY too coarse for razors. Those would get you from grinding out big ugly chips, up to setting a bevel, but no further.


The 4000 and 8000 you have are MUCH finer, but still not suitable for razors if you've been using them with oil to sharpen knives.

If you want to get set up for razors on the cheap, check amazon for the norton 220/1000 + 4000/8000 + SiC flattening stone combo set. Run you about $115 bucks.

The big one in front looks like my 4000 grit Tojiro.
If it is, its a kitchen knive hone, ceramic,
doesn't like too much getting soaked cause it will get tiny cracks,
but its a good hone.
Its fast, but not too coarse. Good for restos.
Great price.

Maybe someone who can read japanese can confirm.

Would a 1000/4000 norton stone be suitable?

So then I should just the 4000/8000 norton?

The 4000/8000 Norton is about equivalent to the 2500/5000 Shapton or other JIS labeled hones. So no.

I was wondering if I could pair up a 6000 and 4000 stone from this store:

eBay Store – BluewayJapan: Search results for.

If not, would I be able to use the 8000 and 4000, or some other combination of these?

To do things right, you really need 4 levels of hone (many ways to get there)

You need something in the neighborhood of a...

1000 grit to set the bevel

4000 to refine the bevel and begin the honing

8000 to properly hone

10000+ to finish

Many people like to add a stone in the 200-500 range for grinding out large chips, and a strop with a fine paste for finishing, which can be used after your 10000+ stone, or instead of it.

As Lynn used to do, and many others have done, you 'can' shave off of a Norton 8000 grit or equivalent, but the results will not be as good. Likewise, you 'can' set a bevel without ever using a 4000 grit, or you can skip straight from bevel setting to 8000 and just spend a long time on the 8000 (I've done it)

I'm using a DMT D8C (325 grit) for grinding out chips and lapping my other stones, the Shapton Glass hones in 1000, 4000, 8000 and 16000; followed by 0.50 micron chromium oxide paste on a balsa wood bench hone.

Also, it would do you a world of good to stick to either Norton, Shapton or Naniwa stones because most everyone around here uses them, and you'll be able to get more help that way. The same logic applies to using a progression like 1k, 4k, 8k finisher, because if you do anything else, you'll pretty much be on your own.

The other way to go is using natural hones, but that's a whole separate conversation.

Yes sure, King and Naniwa are good. Maybe the Choceras are a bit much. Naniwa Superstones actually.
You can also shave from a 8000 hone and pastes, but its better to get one that is finer.