Thread: Advise needed for hones.

Hello everyboy,
Let me please introduce myself before asking for help.
I'm 37, live in the french part of Switzerland.
I work in chemistry for a huge american company.

I started with straights razors only a couple of months ago but, to be honest I think that I'm addicted now ;-)

Actually my question is the following: I would like to be able to take a used straight razor and have a delicate shave after restoring it.
I don't mind if I have to spend weeks or months on it!
And fore sure I need sharpening stones.
I've looked around on the web and I'm pretty close to buy the chorseas series.
I'm sure they are good stones but as you guys are experts could you please tell me if I'm doing the good choice as it is lot of money even for a Swiss guy ;-)
Cheers and good shaves everybody!

Welcome to SRP. I haven't used the Chosera stones. An esteemed member just bought the 1k Chosera and he is very happy with it. I know of at least two other members who had the 5k and 10k Chosera stones and felt that they cut very fast but they didn't like the shaving characteristics of the edges they got from those and sold them.

I can say that the Naniwa Super Stones are very nice for razor honing. If I was to do it over, knowing what I know now, I would get the 1k Chosera, the 3 and or 5k super stone and the 8 and 12k super stone.

There are also natural stones such as the coticule and the Escher/Thuringan, the Japanese naturals. Those are for later IMO. After you feel competent with the synthetics. All this is just in my opinion.

Check out the SRP Wiki here for tutorials on all of this stuff.

Nothing wrong with your choose except amount of money you are going to spend .
better choose will be as JImmy mention to buy shaptons glass stones.
I should add Chosera's will last a lot longer.
their have very strong cutting power.

Thank you guys!
I think I'm going as Jimmy mentioned...
I've read a lot about Super stones and actually I was hesitate between Chorsesas and Super Stones...
And I've heard that some people had trouble with Chorseas if they put too much water!

One other thing, in the USA the Naniwa super stones are 10mm thick with a plastic base glued on. Since you are in Switzerland you may be better off with the 20mm thick no base glued on super stones available here . They are more money but more stone.

You will also need a lapping plate to flatten the stones periodically. I would recommend a 325 diamond plate such as the Dia Sharp DMT D8C continuous plate. I'm not sure if it is available in Europe, there may be an alternative such as the Atoma more easily bought where you are located.

I have to agree with Jimmy's comment/comment as I bought the Choseras based on early obervation about their fine abilities and am not impressed with the shavability after honing several of my razors on the 10K. The Shapton Glasstones and the Nortons and coticules work much better for me.

Then again, I'm not a honer, just a plodder along life's shaving pathways.

I agree that the Naniwa Super Stones are certainly the best for a new user just learning to hone. The grits Jimmy mentioned should serve you well. I would also advise you to purchase a DMT steel to lap the stones prior to use and to raise a slurry on them if desired. 6" Dia-Sharp Diamond Stone

There are several examples of these at this link. What I use is one that is course on one side and fine on the other.

Just be patient and if you haven't already check the Wiki for new shavers which also has honing info.
Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks to you all for your good advices.
I've decided to follow them as you guys have an amazing amount of experiences with honing...
So I'm gonna buy the following:
Naniwa Superstone 3000;5000;8000;10'000,12'000 and a chorsea 1000 for bevel setting.
To lap these stones I'm just hesitating between the NANIWA Flattening Stone Grain Size 220 and a Dia Sharp DMT D8C?

All you really need is this:
a finishing stone
a dmt course.

I haven't had any problem removing the scratches from the course dmt using all my finishers and you can flatten the finisher with it.

8-10-12k may be too small jumps in grit to be practical
and it will be too easy to overdoo the finishing
Skip the 10k is my advice

3k and 5k is really not neccesary to get both but some like the small steps they make