Thread: beginner hone

Hi guys,

With my current case of RAD I've come to the point where I will need to buy a hone. I need recommendations for a hone. I would like to keep it under $100 maybe around $50 if possible.

I'm looking for a hone that is 3 inches wide so I wont have to hone in a X pattern.

Thanks
BR

are you getting a touch up hone only or do you plan to sharpen razors?
Norton 4k/8k or Naniwa 3k/8k can do more then just touch up

Me myself still would want a finisher tho like a Naniwa 12k or a C 12k

Or there is the possibilety for barber hones(may be some in the classefieds)

Originally Posted by BuddyRockefella

I'm looking for a hone that is 3 inches wide so I wont have to hone in a X pattern.

Regardless of the width of the hone, you should still do the X pattern.

The cheapest solution is a used barber hone on ebay (search "razor hone"). These go for $15-$30 with shipping. You may have to resurface (flatten) the hone on sandpaper on glass before using. These are lather/water/oil stones.

The next cheapest solution is a chinese 12k waterstone, available for $25 with shipping from Poland. It comes with a companion slurry stone. I strongly advise you get one of these hones: They're inexpensive, and you'll probably need a slurry stone anyway.

There are plenty of individual waterstones for $50-$100 of various grits.

For over $100, you can get a complete Norton waterstone set for $119.99 with free shipping on Amazon. It includes everything except a slurry stone, which is an addition $15-$20 on Amazon.

Another choice on Amazon is a 8x3" DMT XXF diamond hone (~ 4000 grit). They are about $70.

As others have said, an X-pattern is better. This gives more tolerance for warp and other idiosyncrasies of the blade.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Regardless of the width of the hone, you should still do the X pattern.

is there a reason why i should do the X pattern?

You get more even coverage on the bevel that way.

Norton 4/8K is your safest bet as its tried and tested and proven. You can shave of the 8k as well. Add a China 12k and you will be able to get that real comfy shave you are probably now used to. And you should be able to do those 3 or should i say two, for under 100. Only other thing you would 'need' is a 1k for setting bevels, but you can do that on the 4k. I like the DMT F (1200grit) as it is fast and doesnt need lapping. You can spend alot of time setting a bevel so it can be a real pain to lap.

+Simon

p.s. will need the X stroke as explained

+1, you will definately need to do an X stroke. There was someone a while back who really really really didnt want to do the X stroke and was determined that he would learn to hone without it. He kept getting dull spots on the blade and poor edges and in the end he gave up and started doing X's. Right away those problems disappeared!

I would say the Naniwa 3/8 or the Norton 4/8 is a good bet, and you can add in a C12k or Naniwa 12k as a finisher. The Naniwa 12k is a great finisher and will give you a really sharp smooth edge.

Then you just need a bevel setter. I find the Naniwa 1k is quite a soft stone and tends to dish out quite easily if you have a razor with hard steel or that needs a lot of laps, so I'd say get something like a Shapton 1k or the 1200 DMT. Both are hard wearing and fairly aggressive, especially the DMT!

If you got for the Norton 4/8 you can get the 220/1k as a deal from Amazon and other suppliers for a really good price. Then you just need a C12k.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Stubear

+1, you will definately need to do an X stroke. There was someone a while back who really really really didnt want to do the X stroke and was determined that he would learn to hone without it. He kept getting dull spots on the blade and poor edges and in the end he gave up and started doing X's. Right away those problems disappeared!

There was another guy, who absolutely insisted X strokes were "inefficient" and unnecessary on 3" hones, who continually had problems. He started a few threads all making variations on the same problems with honing, and never got it to work. He finally gave up firmly in the belief that he was right. His razors weren't sharp, but he was right.

Get a barbers hone and learn to do touchups and then decide if you wish to spend 100's or 1000;s of dollars on good stones.