Beginner Hone Set?

[Utopian]

I have both sets, though my Nortons are single grit. Either set works just fine. The lower grits of the Norton work great for setting bevels while the Naniwa 5k will be a bit of a challenge for a blade that needs any significant work. Of course the Naniwas take you to a finer grit, but the Nortons could be supplemented with a $25 Chinese hone from Woodcraft to get you to a comparable final polish.

If you get the Naniwas, you need a means of lapping them. They need regular lapping to maintain their surfaces. This can be accomplished with sandpaper on the cheap and with a DMT for quite a bit more.

Regardless of which you buy, if you change your mind or decide they are not right for you, then you can always sell them in the classifieds and recoup most of their cost.

[holli4pirating]

IMO it depends on what you can afford and what you want to do. The Norton kit lets you set bevels, but the Naniwa kit takes you to a higher finish. The Norton kit also includes a lapping plate (though that will also need to be lapped, probably initially and then periodically).

IMO, the Norton kit is better for a starter. Going up to a 12k won't help if you can't get a really good shave off your 8k, so it won't get much initial use. You can also substitute in a barber hone and get a much less expensive finisher.

Also +1 to all that Utopian said (he and I must have been typing at the same time)

[Fbones24]

So basically, either set would have to be supplemented. The Norton with a higher grit stone (I currently have two barber hones) and the Naniwa with a lower grit hone for bevel setting. This would still leave the Norton set much, much cheaper.

Does the lapping stone that comes with the Norton set have to be lapped as well? Does this not defeat the purpose of including that stone in the kit?

[Utopian]

Yes, the Norton lapping stone occasionally needs to be lapped, which seems ridiculous, but it is really easy and can be done with any very coarse grit wet/dry sandpaper. Lay the paper on a countertop, pour some water on it, and lap away. It's easy and quick.

Which barber hones do you have? One of them might be adequate to improve your edge off of the 8K.

[Fbones24]

Yes, the Norton lapping stone occasionally needs to be lapped, which seems ridiculous, but it is really easy and can be done with any very coarse grit wet/dry sandpaper. Lay the paper on a countertop, pour some water on it, and lap away. It's easy and quick.

Which barber hones do you have? One of them might be adequate to improve your edge off of the 8K.

I have a Swaty and a Boss Barber Hone. I think the Swaty is probably a higher grit than the Boss from what I have read and I guess that would be sufficient as a finisher for the time being.

[Utopian]

Yup. You can bring the blades up to snuff with the progression up to the 8k and then the Swaty will be all you need from that point on to maintain the edge indefinitely.

[holli4pirating]

Well, you don't NEED anything finer than an 8k. I'd actually suggest not using anything higher until you are getting really good shaves off your 8k - then you can decide if you want to go farther. Swaty's are great finishers, but they do vary a bit in grit from model to model. You can figure yours out by playing with it, or if you post the text or a photo of it someone may be able to chime in.

With the Naniwa set, you would need something more to set bevels, but if you're not buying off ebay you may not need a bevel setter. I have found that most NOS razors and new Dovo's (this does not apply to new TI's I've tried, and I've not tried any other new razors) don't need to see a bevel setter - you can start on the 5k.

You will need something to lap either set. I like the DMTC for lapping, and it's cheaper in the long run than sandpaper.

[Fbones24]

Well, you don't NEED anything finer than an 8k. I'd actually suggest not using anything higher until you are getting really good shaves off your 8k - then you can decide if you want to go farther. Swaty's are great finishers, but they do vary a bit in grit from model to model. You can figure yours out by playing with it, or if you post the text or a photo of it someone may be able to chime in.

With the Naniwa set, you would need something more to set bevels, but if you're not buying off ebay you may not need a bevel setter. I have found that most NOS razors and new Dovo's (this does not apply to new TI's I've tried, and I've not tried any other new razors) don't need to see a bevel setter - you can start on the 5k.

You will need something to lap either set. I like the DMTC for lapping, and it's cheaper in the long run than sandpaper.

Well, since I don't NEED anything higher than 8K to get started, i am leaning towards the Norton set. Yes, I would prefer to purchase the Naniwa set, but at the $200+ price point, I just can't see it right now. For half the price, I can get the entire Norton set and get to honing......even an ebay special. I was looking for pros and cons, but I guess the price difference on these was as far as I had to look.

[RKP]

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

Richard

[Utopian]

Well, since I don't NEED anything higher than 8K to get started, i am leaning towards the Norton set. Yes, I would prefer to purchase the Naniwa set, but at the $200+ price point, I just can't see it right now. For half the price, I can get the entire Norton set and get to honing......even an ebay special. I was looking for pros and cons, but I guess the price difference on these was as far as I had to look.

If you're considering eBay specials, then the Nortons are probably the way to go.