Thread: Is the norton 8k good enough for a decent shave?

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...

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.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

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.

+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.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

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.

+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.

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.