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Just starting to hone and I see a lot of info about the norton 4k/8k and then finishing stones like the 12k or the 16k and also the pastes. I have the norton and I have read about people using just that.
My basic questions is
Are the 12k and higher stones necessary for finishing the blade and getting a good smooth shave?
I have read a lot about the stones and searched the forums, but I cannot seem to find a clear cut answer to that question. perhaps I am missing the correct thread.
If 8K is all you can have for now, then it is OK. Higher grits are mostly considered a luxury, and often equates to personal taste. 8K and a linen/combo strap can still produce a fine shaving edge. However... It would not hurt to throw in some Cr0x before stropping... :D
Exactly. Higher grit stones are definitely nice to have, but the Norton followed by a little crox stropping should do just fine in the meantime.
Yes, you can shave off a Norton 8k, and I recommend to new guys who have the Norton 4k/8k not to bother getting any finer hones until they can get at least pretty good shaves off the Norton 8k - if you are not getting a good edge there then finer hones will not help. Shaving off the 8k is a great way to test out how good your honing is.
Yes, an 8K is enough.
The 8K and a good strop are all you really need. They are in fact all I generally use even though I do have both finer stones and pasted strops at my disposal.
If you want cheap alternative to a finisher get the Chinese natural at Woodcraft for $20.
With Norton's I've been able to achieve great edges with them.
Picking up the 5/8k Super Naniwa to compare the two eventually.
+1! Going to a finisher or even the next finest hone before you get an optimum edge on the last hone only get you more practice on your strokes. I shaved off an 8k for quite a while. And yes, the Chinese Natural fro Wood Crafter is a good alternative for a finisher. It will also give you lots of practice on your strokes with a smoother shave as a result. It is not the most consistent home out there though and it will also give you lots of practice lapping as it takes quite a while to get it flat. It gives good results if you have a great edge to start with.Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
+1 and I can get a good shave off of one to boot. I like to check out my honing by shaving at that level first and follow up on another day with a higher grit and see what that is like. Makes life interesting. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
Thanks for all the input. This puts my mind at ease about having to go out and purchase another stone right away. I can work with what I have, knowing it will take care of me.