Thread: Anyone experience with this combination stone

I'm in the throws of deciding what hones to buy (on a tight budget) with a view to buying the odd vintage str8 to clean up and get shave ready for myself.

I'm wondering particularly if 2000 grit will be sufficient as a bevel setter or if i would also need to invest in a 1000 grit.

Eden Quality Combi Waterstone grain 2000 / 5000

The next hone in the progression will be a Dragons Tongue Welsh slate (which I have just received) and then I expect I shall get a Chinese 12k as a final finisher.

I have no experience with that hone, however I have read that others have used similar lesser known artificial combos with some success.

Chances are you would be better off giving it a good lapping to both sides before use, and then a light lapping each time you use it. I have a King combo and a Naniwa combo which get similar treatment.

The 2K side should work as a bevel setter, albeit it may be a little slow. Most use a 1K or less - I use an 800 (0.8K). It should still allow you to set bevels, some use coticules to set bevels (although very few!) and a several years back while SRP was a mere yahoo group; most used the 4K side of a Norton combo to set bevels.

The progression from 2K-5K-Dragons Tongue-C12K may work nicely, however if this is your intention I recommend that you get slurry stones for your naturals and a small DMT or a nagura to generate slurry on your combo. Slurry will give you far more versatility and a wider range of options.

Great, I don't mind spending more time on setting the bevel, I doubt I'll be doing it too often. Yes I figured that it would need regular lapping but from what I've read that's the sensible approach with most of the cheaper stones.

If I start to spend £100's on honing stones I would probably be better advised to send them to a honemeister and make use for their abilities, but for me the intention is to get and maintain a good edge at a reasonable price, mixed in with some minor restoration work.

At the moment i don't know current prices on each hone and i could be a little off.
I used always advice to new people buy norton 4/8k and if it is necessary you can add norton 1k this is it you done.price was 76.00 + 30=106.00
you spend this much and you done. you learn how to use and learn honing rechniques.
Now there is more options out there
shaptons
Naniwas =couple different types
coticule
and so on.
last i have tested was some German and POlish stones .
Doesn't matter.
My point is if you have (most of us do) money issues why to buy the stone which no one else never tested and you just starting honing.
it seems like you are putting yourself inside jungle and don't have compass to guide you?
This is how i started .

i bought slip stones and glued them together . Then i start to hone cheap blades.
i did this quite while then when i had chance i bought Norton Combo 4/8 k.
etc.
hope this helps.

Very good points, raised.

I have the DT (received today) not yet lapped it but at £11ish delivered it was a must if only because I'm half Welsh!

I have not yet ordered any others but I think that perhaps I should just get a C12K at this stage and between those two just try to maintain the edge on my current razors.

if you just looking maintaining the edge current shave ready razor your best and cheap option will be barber hone.
search for barber hones and buy good ones.
check thread
barber hones characteristics
and choose one.
some of them really expensive.

Yes, just learn to maintain the edges of your own razors at this stage. If you only have a few but good razors, you'll need to do this less often than you think.

Lots here like Barber hones, but unless you get a known brand like a Swaty, they are not all equal. If I were you I'd contact Steve at 'The Invisible Edge' and ask him for either a tried and tested coticule bout or a Naniwa 10 or 12K.

He sells these stones and will offer you any advice should you need it.