Thread: which stones to buy?

Which stones to buy.

This is all my personal experience. Some of you will be agree some wont. I would be gladly read every single honest critics remarks and i deeply appreciate.
I will start from Newbies and move on forward.
As of today there is couple synthetic brand stones available.
shaptons,Nani was,Norton.
Norton is 1k.4/8k. shapton and Naniwas do have many more different grits available.
In my Experience i have used shapton and Nortons.
i have seen a lot people happy with their Naniwas.
compare this 2 brands shapton and Norton i would recommend Norton for starters.
The reason Very easy to learn and price is chipper then compare rest 2 brands.
You will need to have Norton 1k for setting bevel ,taking out chips. and 4/8 finishing the edge.Can you get comfortable shave off 8k i should say yes you can.
Now Most likely you will end up chro2 paddle strop if that is the only hones you have.nortons)
About shaptons.
They have a lot more grits available 500--------30.000
Never used 30.k and no idea how it does work.
Shapton 1k very easy to use stone but it is not as fast cutter as norton 1k(in fact shapton 1k in fact isn't 1k real time)
that is why if you have chips to remove better will be to use Norton.
Many people ends up buying shaptons and 16k is the most used one. (most likely because of price)
I would discourage anyone to use 16 k shapton as a finishing stone.
My reason for it this. straight razor edge get so fine when you use 16 as a finisher it brakes down the edge. as a result you will have harsh shaving feelings.
30k i have no idea.
Naniwa 12 k i have not used . I have seen Lynn used and i have observe the edge.
I should say i liked so much. Again do understand next words they are not mine. Lynn after finishing on 12k did you paddle strop with paste and edge was shave ready.
Now about more confusing stage . Natural stones.

there is a lot issues in here.
first and most important how much money yuo would like to spend.
natural stones which i have used are
Coticule, Japanese stones. Nakayama An Escher.

At first i should say.
Not all Natural stones same.

Japanese stones has so many names and mines . if you are going to buy Japanese Stone you need to (must) have someone guide you.
They are expensive and if you don't get what you want you are loosing a lot money.
In the other hand if you could get the stone mean to for straight razor Japanese stone will make you very happy.
i should say child can use them.
Please do understand. It is not easy to find stone which will suite for your straight razors.
Now about coticules.
So far i have own more then 130 Coticules. They are different 1 from another so much you will need help on this too.
i have seen coticule will cut as fast as 4k Norton and sound like sand while you hone. Edge will be in 4 k level too.
i have seen coticue will cut fast and edge will be 8k level.
i do own 1 coticule very very slow cutter and friend of mine calls ITALIAN mramir In fact i think that is the best Coticule i have.Edge will come out from that stone very close to escher edge. Not same.
To use coticule you need to have experience or learn how to use it. they have garnets etc. make slurry and dilute slowly until you get clean water you will get better result.
Lastly An Eschers.
They have different colors. dark blue -------light.yellow green. Some people will say their finest depends on colors.
I am not sure about it.
i do have black color droeschr and escher they will both perform same as light/yellow green level.
In My opinion there is not so much differences among Escher 's edge. they are similar.
Edge comes out of escher i think is the best . But you need to know how to use it.
i wuold say escher is not sharpening stone . it is final touching up stone. if you use right time you will love it . wrong time you will hate it.
To spend money to buy which one of natural stones?
i would advise go with escher.(price and quality)
hope all this helps. gl.