Do I Have Enough Hones?

Hi All,
I have a set of three diamond hones in course, fine and extra fine which work very well on knives.
I also have a 1k/3k combination, an 8k and C12k water hones and I have treated the back of an old leather belt with jewellers rouge, which I got from a jewellry supply place so I am assuming it it good quality.
When funds permit I intend to get a DMT325 8" x 3" for lapping.
Should I use the jewellers rouge for final polishing and how much pressure should I apply when using it?
I should also say that the jewellers rouge is glued to a piece of rigid plastic and has been flattened with a bottle.
ATM I use the 1k for bevel stting and the 1k/8k for pyramid work then the 12k which I only got yesterday.
Should I be using the 3k/8k for the pyramid?
Any comments/advice is welcome.
I polished my full hollow today before I used it, and it seems to be just a good as the new blade I got from johnmrson which was shave ready.
The full hollow takes some getting used to as it does not like too much pressure when honing/stopping or shaving.
Cheers,
Geoff

I'd say that you will be able to get your razors shave ready with that set up, given the stones are of decent quality and flatness.
Yes, I would set bevels on the 1K, then use the 3K and 8K in a pyramid, if that's your preferred progression.
The Guangxi finisher will give a good polish to your edge. It is not the fastest finisher out there, but then again, this is not a race:)

No............

Geoff, I am no honing guru but I use a norton 4k/8k with a PHIG finisher. No bevel setter yet :( , that being said I have been getting very acceptable edges with that progression.

Just my experience.

Stu

It sounds like that jewelers rogue is a thick slab spread on a backing? In this case it will not work for your razors.
You can get CrO and some leather/hard felt to make a bench strop, or apply on one side of the linen of your hanging strop.

As far as the stones 1k for bevel set, 3/8k pyramid I think will work fine if the stones are good. What brand are they?

Hi Stefan,
The 8k is a White Corundum from EBay (item number 320659696880) and the 1/3k is a japanese one manufactured by Fujitora, that I got through a locall camping shop.
The jewellers rouge I just rubbed the stick onto the back (ie Flesh) side of an old leather belt that I glued onto a solid backing and then rubbed with a bottle to flatten it out.
I haven't tried it on razors but it works a treat on knives. I know that there is no correlation between the two though.
Cheers,
Geoff

If you can get your razors shaving well with the hones you have than you have enough hones. If not something is needed. The 3k/8k pyramid may be good. Depends on the stones. The grits are approximate with some of them. I know a Norton 4/8 works well in a pyramid. I've got no experience with the rouge but whatever the medium going with light pressure is the way I go at the finishing stage. All of this stuff is trial and error and finding what works for you.

I have no experience with the 8k stone, so as Jimmy said you have to try it and see how it goes.
Can you post a pic of the 1/3k?

Sure Stefan, it's not a real good photo 'cause I was trying to show the frown on the blade.
The blade is resting on the 1k side.
The lighting isn't real good but the 3k side is a light brown colour.
There are better photos on the fujitora website.
Cheers,
Geoff

Do you have enough hones, is this what you ask?
The answer is "NO" and now getting more is your task.
You must buy hones until it is clear you have too many.
You never have enough until nobody else has any.

Sounds to me like you have the beginning of a setup there.
Remember, pressure is not your friend. If you have any more of that jewelers rouge you may want to make another strop for razors. They require very little on the strop, check the wiki for application instructions. I wouldn't use a belt either, try to find some 6-8 cm wide leather to use with no deformations in it.

Some companies get OEM stones and have their own stamps put on them.
I was hoping this stone is one of those, but I have not seen it before, as said above try it and see how it works.