Thread: Dedicated Bevel Setting ....

Great write up, Glen. I'm using the Naniwa at the moment and am very happy with it save for the need to fairly regularly lap it. Holli's thread on the Chosera started me being tempted and this one's ratcheting up the level.

I just finished testing the Naniwa Chosera 1K, Shapton Pro 1K & Shapton Glass 1k, Naniwa 1K and Norton 1K.
I used a slurry on all the hones and tested using German full hollow ground razors.

To me, the Chosera is the fastest cutting of the above hones. I rank their performance in the order listed above.

The DMT 1200 cuts faster but it will also wear out much faster than the Chosera. The Chosera gives you more bang for the buck. It will last much longer than the DMT 1200.

This hone is really not necessary for the average user, any of the above will be adequate. But for a person honing a bunch of razors the Chosera is excellent.....til a better one comes along!

Advice needed:

My actual hone setup is this:

325&1200 DMT, Norton 4k/8k or Naniwa 5k and 8k (will buy them soon), naniwa 12k or cotis or boxed thuri. I am honing 1-3 razors a week on average, but the number is slowly increasing I have found that I don't like my DMT 1200 too much, because it is so agressive, and because of the deep scratches it leaves. A do restores frequently, so it is not uncommon that I have to start on the 325. What stone would you advice buying? Most likely I will sell my DMT after it, and have only one bevel setter. Please help me decide if you can, any opinions are welcome!

So you've got the norton 4/8 now? Id get the norton 1k to be honest.

Stones seem to work well in sets of the same make I've found, and I've heard the norton 1k is a great stone.

The Naniwa 1k is good too, but I definitely think it works better as part of a set. It's also quite soft and dishes out easily, so for that reason id go for the norton.

The truth is that I would be happier with a no soak bevel setter. I like to put the norton in water, and start honing on the 1k. After the bevel is set, I can go to the norton right away. I was thinking to replace the norton with naniwas because of the soaking, and the feel of the 4k side.

There is one thing about the Norton 1k that I do not like. No matter how long I soak it, it is a thirsty sponge. I have to keep spraying mine something like every 10 strokes--despite leaving them partially submerged during honing.

I don't see the chosera as being expensive. It might be the one of the better deals in the hone world. We are talking about a tool that is going to do 90% of the work. A hone that is going to see constant and consistent use.

Originally Posted by jimmyfingers

I don't see the chosera as being expensive. It might be the one of the better deals in the hone world. We are talking about a tool that is going to do 90% of the work. A hone that is going to see constant and consistent use.

Well that depends on what one is honing. Not everyone plans on going into the honing business. I know it doesn't see that way, but there are a few guys who really are not planning that yet. For those few who intend to just keep their own razors sharp, an expensive bevel setter is not necessary, as more than 95% of their honing will be done maintaining their razors and they will never need their bevel setter unless they drop a razor.

+1 on Glenn's list.

I would add to this list the abrasive film on
a solid flat base (glass, granite, Pinnacle Honing Plate).

The 15 micron film is about equal to a 1K hone
and should be followed with the 5 micron film
(3-4K grit) and then finish with your favorite
finishing hone set. Some will have luck with the 0.3 micron
film but some will find it harsh and unfriendly
to shave from. Film on a very flat surface will
generate a very precise bevel on almost any
steel.
See: 2020080
I have and use film on glass -- Yet, I much prefer my
waterstone hones. I add this as an option that worked well for me
while I saved my pocket change for a richer kit
of hones.

I've got one of the DMT green Extra-Fine hones (larger) and at 9 micron it is, or should be, less agressive to metal than say 1K would be. I have an old "FINE" DMT from years of use and I used to use it to start with, but it is way down the list for grit, something probably like 650 or so. But, it's been used so much over all these years that it seems kind of worn down. Like I said, I wold think the 9 micron diamon DMT would work well if it were rubbed a bit with a slurry stone tnad wront down just a bit.