Thread: DMT8EE vs Norton 4k/8k vs King 1k/6k vs nani 3k/8k

I have a lot of stones, mainly bevel setters, and a CH12k. I am looking for a stone in between bevel setting, and finishing.

I will be honing for myself, and for others too after I have mastered my new hone. So the best would be a hone that is easy to use, and I can get a good edge with it in a reasonable time, so I can go to the CH12k afterwards. I am not a pro yet, but I can get a good edge on my razors. I won't hone too many razors a day, so the hone will see only moderate use for now. I know how to lap, and I have the right stuff for that.

I read a lot of threads about these hones, so I know their main attributes. I only want to know what the pros and honemeisters here would buy in my place. The King stick out as it is the cheapest by far, out of the more expensive hones the nani is about 15-20 dollars more than the DMT and Norton.

So if you could share your opinions on my hone choice, I would appreciate it!

I would recommend either the Norton 4/8 or the naniwa 3/8. Both are great hones IME.

That is easy, SINCE you have a bevel setter....

Either the Norton 4/8 a well proved workhorse. and excellent in the combo you are talking about,,, from experience honing many many razors done that way personally...

Or for a slightly better feeling stone the Naniwa 3/8 SS combo..
These have a better feel than the Nortons do, also from experience with the stone..

Either will do everything you need it too

The king 1k is a good stone but it sounds like you don't need another low grit I have not used the King or Ice Bear 8k (can't remember what name they use)

The DMT EE is a good cutter but the CH12k will take FOREVER to get out all the scratches after it..

JMHO and experience with most of these stones...

In the end, I don't think it will matter so long as you learn to use what you get. The exception is the King; you say you have bevel setters covered so you probably wouldn't use the 1k, and the jump from the 6k to the C12k seems a bit big.

Yeah, I won't use the 1k side of the King too much.

How many laps means forever? I have a slurry stone for the CH12k, 100 laps with slurry is about 5 mins with my speed. If I can buy some time at the 4-8k stage with the faster cutting diamonds, maybe the actual sharpening will be nearly the same.

And as I heard, I can do nothing wrong with more lapses on the dmt, because the edge stays sharp, while the syntetics are prone to overhoning. Is this real true, or I am stressing myself too much with overhoning?

The truth is that it seems that I could get a DMT off a member for about 50 bucks, so I am heavily considering the offer.

Originally Posted by jeness

Yeah, I won't use the 1k side of the King too much.

How many laps means forever? I have a slurry stone for the CH12k, 100 laps with slurry is about 5 mins with my speed. If I can buy some time at the 4-8k stage with the faster cutting diamonds, maybe the actual sharpening will be nearly the same.

And as I heard, I can do nothing wrong with more lapses on the dmt, because the edge stays sharp, while the syntetics are prone to overhoning. Is this real true, or I am stressing myself too much with overhoning?

You are stressing WAY to much...Overhoning isn't nearly as easy as some would have you think... and actually of the three stones the chances of overhoning would be in this order IMHO

DMT = most likely
Norton
Naniwa = least likely

The 8k Norton and especially the 8k Naniwa are both "Shave Ready" stones... In other words with good honing technique you can shave off either... So your Ch12k is now just a finisher...

Would a nani 12k faster for finishing after the DMT8EE?

Of the hones you mentioned, I own a DMT D8EE, a King 1K/6K, the Norton 4k/8k and the Naniwa SS in 5K, 8K and 12K. Of these hones the only one I do not like is the D8EE.

When I first got my D8EE, I tested it with several razors and it seemed to dull the edge. When I inspected the hone more closely, the hone did not appear to be truely flat. The only test method I have of testing for flatness is by using several metal Starrett rulers that I own. My Starrett rulers have good edges and when placed on a glass table or a piece of polished granite, there is no visible light between the ruler and the surface. When the same rulers are placed on the D8EE, I can see light between the ruler and the surface in several areas. This may not be an acceptable scientific method for testing and the flatness of my D8EE may be within DMT's given tolerance, but I have not been happy with the hone's performance. I have not used my D8EE on my razors since my initial attempts with the hone, so I don't know if my poor results are due to my inexperience with the D8EE or a factor of the hone itself. When its time to hone, I have too many other hones to chose from, so the D8EE sits in the drawer.

If you are interested in the D8EE, I would suggest that you try one first to see if you like the hone's feel and performance. DMT does make a good product, IMO. I own several other DMT hones including the D8C that I use for lapping. My D8C is perfectly flat when tested using the same method mentioned above and I have been extremely happy with it's performance.

I don't have any experience with the CH12K so I can't give you a direct comparison between the CH12K and the Naniwa 12K. I do like my Naniwa hones and I have been very happy with the edge I get with the Naniwa 12K. If they are in your budget, I think you would be very happy with the Naniwa hones, IMO.

If your DMT8EE isn't flat, than contact the DMT costumer service. It is a factory fault, and they will replace it with a flat one.

It seems like I could get a used DMT8EE + nani 12k for about 110-120$ from a member, or a nani 3k/8k combo stone for 95$. What would be the better option? I have crox, 0.5 and 0.25 diamond paste on balsa and leather, and a ch12k too. How does the edge off a 8k naniwa shave? With or without stropping on crox or diamond?