Thread: Question about my Next Fix

I wouldnt add the 5k, its fine to go from the 3k to the 8k and the only difference it would make would be to spend slightly less time on the 3k and more time on your new 5k.

If I had your line up I'd be adding natural finishers to it. Stones like Coticules, Eschers, Thuringians, Charnley Forest or some sort of high end Japanese stone would really make a difference to your finished edges.

If you like the edges you're getting now from the stones you have I think a J-Nat or something would really take things to the next level.

My naturals have basically rendered my pasted strops redundant!

Originally Posted by Stubear

I wouldnt add the 5k, its fine to go from the 3k to the 8k and the only difference it would make would be to spend slightly less time on the 3k and more time on your new 5k.

If I had your line up I'd be adding natural finishers to it. Stones like Coticules, Eschers, Thuringians, Charnley Forest or some sort of high end Japanese stone would really make a difference to your finished edges.

If you like the edges you're getting now from the stones you have I think a J-Nat or something would really take things to the next level.

My naturals have basically rendered my pasted strops redundant!

Lawson,
It seems like you have a big gap between your 3K and 8K Naniwa...I would add 5K to that, if you wish. I have a 1, 5, 8, 12k Naniwa and haven;t found a use for the 3k.

+1 on Stu's recommendation about Natural Stones. They make a HUGE difference in edge polish/finish. But the caveat is that some of these naturals come with a hefty price tag too. I found Cotis to be a very nice addition to any hone collection because they tend to cover ~3-8K range...all using just one stone. But they have a personality and you have to spend time getting to know them.

Eschers and JNats are $$, but fabulous stones. The edges off these things are really polished.

What's your budget? That will dictate what you can and cannot buy.

I know others will disagree, but I'm such a fan of doing the lower grits right, I would recommend the 2k, and the 5k! I know that others say you can do higher grit jumps, but I've seen the effect that has with sanding, so with honing I still stick with reducing the jumps as much as possible.

I went through a lot of trouble finding the 2k. At the time I got mine, there wasn't anyone in the US that was selling it.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I know others will disagree, but I'm such a fan of doing the lower grits right, I would recommend the 2k, and the 5k! I know that others say you can do higher grit jumps, but I've seen the effect that has with sanding, so with honing I still stick with reducing the jumps as much as possible.

I went through a lot of trouble finding the 2k. At the time I got mine, there wasn't anyone in the US that was selling it.

Huge +1 here

Finishers all eventually come down to personal preference as you can see from reading here in just this one thread..

Getting the 1k-8k system locked in and performing on every razor is the key to honing... Some of us, like Ron and I believe, that tightening that up is the key to it...Not the only way , you could do more polishing as you go up instead, either way you want all the previous grit marks polished out...

Just keep in mind that setting the bevel, and getting to shave ready before the finishing stone, is the way to a smooth shave, and yes that pertains to the Coticule system too, you're just doing it on one stone instead...

As has been stated, bevel setting remains key!

I really don't find much difference result wise between using the 3K/8K and the 5K/8K or for that matter, using the Norton 4K/8K. The areas in between, in my opinion, are very much personal preference.

I have never seen a Coticule perform as well as my Eschers in finishing a razor!!!! I have done thousands of razors on each. That said, the Coticule is a can do stone and a decent finisher. As for the one hone method, you can do the same thing on a Chinese 12K, Escher or any of the Janpanese Naturals. It all boils down to the condition of the razor and the amount of time you want to spend on it.

To me, the DMT 1200 is very aggressive for setting bevels. Like Dylan, I like the Chosera 1K or Naniwa SS 1K and find them very effective without tearing up the spines of the razor I am working on.

With only 20 razors under your belt, I would say for you to experiment and learn more from what you have although, if you feel you need a tweener or another finisher or you want to play with a Coticule, go for it. Experimenting with the pastes and sprays is another area of learning too.

Honing makes you a better honer.........

Have fun,

Lynn

I love my coticule but I use it as a sharpening stone or a beveling stone, nothing more than that because it doesn't finish up to my expectations. It will smooth and edge beautifully but it will also make it less keen adding a dullness to the feeling.

For Finishing...

Well...
Eschers...
Charnley Forest
Japanese Naturals that cost several hundreds of dollars....


How high is your credit limit?!

1K is the best stone to have.

Originally Posted by Stubear

If I had your line up I'd be adding natural finishers to it. Stones like Coticules, Eschers, Thuringians, Charnley Forest or some sort of high end Japanese stone would really make a difference to your finished edges.

+1 to the Naturals. They're too much fun to ignore. You never know exactly how to fit them into a progression, and they look great. Don't confine your decision to finishers, though that's really where they shine. I've spent the last week figuring out whether my Dragon's Tongue is equivalent to my Coticule, and no one, I repeat NO ONE, can say for sure whether it will. All naturals are different. If you've got HAD, naturals will keep you confused and twitching in the gutter for a year or so.

You might also consider that going au natural will expand your hone-hunting regimen far beyond looking for prices on websites. Soon you'll be considering international shipping and moving fast when you've got a lead on a Charnley.

...but often times I don't know what I'm talking about.

You are in a lot of trouble.

Originally Posted by Bill S

You are in a lot of trouble.

True that. That's what the kids say: "True that."

if you want some thing in the middle i would suggest a natural aoto stone its in the 2000-3000 grit range or some thing at the end i would suggest a spyderco ultra fine hone (high alumina ceramic) it puts a true mirror finish on a razor