Thread: One and one hone only pleeeeaaase.

I would agree, for an inexpensive, easily located finisher to keep edges going a Chinese 12K is probably the best route. You can find them at most local woodcraft stores or online. I use it both as a finisher and a touch up hone. Initial lapping can be done on wet/dry sandpaper and if you are using it only for touch ups every few weeks the lapping should last a long time as you should only be doing 5-10 strokes.

Buy Natural Water Stone, 8" x 2" x 1" at Woodcraft.com

Really it doesn't...Whatever stone you get just so long as it polishes the edge to a comfortable level, then it will work...

I can't even say 6k or higher since there are Arkansas stones rated way lower that will work too...

You have to learn to use the stone you choose... Any one of the stones mentioned will work if you learn to use it...

All you are asking here is :"What is your favorite polishing stone and why"

For the purpose you stated you have a multitude of choices, all of which can get you there

Originally Posted by JimR

Ugh. The biggest problem with this place as a source of information for newbies is CONFUSING THE ISSUE.

Scipio, you clearly did not read the OP. He said TOUCH UPS ONLY. None of the stones you mentioned are right--the coticule can be used as a touch up hone, but at a lot of time/experimenting/experience cost.

Naniwa 12K (Or Shapton 12K-16K, it probably doesn't matter much), you're done. After initial lapping, when used for touchups, lots of lapping should not be an issue.

Nightblade, I recommend you stop reading this thread. There are about a hundred other issues about to flood you with noise.

The signal is: buy a synthetic, high grit hone and don't let anyone shake you in your resolve.

I did read the OP Jim, I just wanted to clarify that I for one doubt that I could get by with soley a 12K and nothing else. I think sometimes I need to go down to 8K and repolish. Yes, it may confuse a Newb, but not everyone can get by indefinitely with just a high end polisher.

Yes, he can continue to touch up with a 12K, but for how long I do not know. A long time probably. In my opinion if he were to go this route he would need a lapping plate also. It is just the easiest way.

Originally Posted by Kees

Interesting thread.

When I joined in 2006 I asked a similar question. At the time coticules, Eschers and 8K Norton were the favourite hones.

Hey Kees,

Look back at some of the old SRP posts going back to 2000-2001 and see how far this has come.

As Glen says, the best hone is the one that works the best for you. I have recommended the Naniwa Super 12K to a bunch of folks and they have done fine with it and without much trial and error and the same can be said for the Shapton 16K. You can actually refresh off a Norton 8K or a Barber Hone or a Chinese or a Coticule or an Escher or a Japanese Natural. Some are just easier than others and everyones learning curve and pocket book are different. And then, the pastes and sprays are the great equalizers. I normally recommend people try these until they quit working and then go to a hone when they have to following up with the spray/pastes and razors can be maintained if not abused for a really long time.

Actually, we don't talk about the results from strops much, but they also play a huge part in razor maintenance.

Talk amongst yoselves and Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

the pastes and sprays are the great equalizers.
Lynn

That's my experience as well. If I use a chrom. oxide pasted strop after whatever finishing hone (coticule, Escher, Nakayama, Thuringian, barber hone) the resulting edges are almost indistinguishable. Chorm. oxide gives a nice and smooth edge.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Really it doesn't...Whatever stone you get just so long as it polishes the edge to a comfortable level, then it will work...

I can't even say 6k or higher since there are Arkansas stones rated way lower that will work too...

You have to learn to use the stone you choose... Any one of the stones mentioned will work if you learn to use it...

All you are asking here is :"What is your favorite polishing stone and why"

For the purpose you stated you have a multitude of choices, all of which can get you there

This! I never understand the inclination of someone to claim any one hone is THE answer. Why is Shapton 16K not "it", or myriad other stones. The answer is that it really doesn't matter... Well said, Glen!