Thread: Beginner Hone Set?

Originally Posted by RKP

I am considering the Norton set as well. I already have a swaty and a Belgian blue.

Richard

The Swaty could be your finisher, and the blue would be a good "plan b" for razors that are misbehaving on the Nortons. I have found that the edges of a BBW shave about the same as those off an 8k.

Would CrO/FeO diamond paste work for finishing off an 8k norton stone? Already have that and looking to start honing as cheaply as possible.

Also, from what I've read in this thread, you can lap a norton stone with sandpaper and a bench? Apologies if there's a guide somewhere, posting on my way off to work, will look into it more after work

Great thread and discussion....I love reading threads about hone setups for Newbs as I've been contemplating mine for some time now....probably launch on it in Sept-Oct.

Good discussion and I hadn't even thought of using the Barber as a finisher off the Norton 8K....dont know why but it makes sense!

Chris

Some info to supplement this thread...

Hone Lapping 101 - Straight Razor Place Wiki
What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks!

Personally, I'm contemplating Lynn's basic setup in his video...Norton 4/8K, lapping stone, Belgian Coti finisher with slurry stone.

Chris

Originally Posted by Ru4scuba

Thanks!

Personally, I'm contemplating Lynn's basic setup in his video...Norton 4/8K, lapping stone, Belgian Coti finisher with slurry stone.

Chris

I have to watch the "honing" section on the video again. The only thing that stops me from doing something like that is that the cost ends up being the same, if not more than juts buying the Norton starter set.

It is interesting, but in reading this site, the opinions on hones seems to vary more than anything else.

Additional Question: If you have a razor that has been honed by a pro and the paste/barber hone no longer bring it back to sharp, do you start from the 4K? Again, I have to watch Lynn's video again, but I just don't quite understand how you use the stone progression on a previously professionally honed razor?

It's highly unlikely you'd have to drop down that far. You could start with just some strokes on the highest grit you have and then shave test it. If it's not there yet, then drop down to the next lower grit. If you don't have a good sense of the number of strokes needed, the pyramid method will help you sort that out.

How does the Naniwa super stones compare to the regular Naniwa stones? I assume the super stones are a bit better. I have looked at the super stones and have considered getting it.

Richard

combo belgian blue and coticle with a slurry stone is all I use any more.

Considering selling my whole set of Nortons.

Originally Posted by Bothor

Would CrO/FeO diamond paste work for finishing off an 8k norton stone? Already have that and looking to start honing as cheaply as possible.

Also, from what I've read in this thread, you can lap a norton stone with sandpaper and a bench? Apologies if there's a guide somewhere, posting on my way off to work, will look into it more after work

I'm sure using the paste after the Nortn 8k would help, but I can't quite say by how much because I've never tried that progression. The razor should certainly be shave ready and a very comfortable shaver at that, though, because it already is when you come off the 8k and the paste would only make it better.

For lapping, check out the Hone Lapping 101 link Slarti posted - short answer is yes you can lap with sandpaper, but you need a flat, waterproof surface to do it on.

Originally Posted by RKP

How does the Naniwa super stones compare to the regular Naniwa stones? I assume the super stones are a bit better. I have looked at the super stones and have considered getting it.

Richard

Which are you referring to as the "regular stone." As I refer to Naniws, the Superstones are the regular ones and the Choseras are the "special" ones. I don't know anything about any other Naniwas stones, so someone else would have to chime in about those.