Thread: 4k/8k or chinese 12k?

As a new shaver, I am proud to say that I have made quite a bit of headway on the actual shaving portion, and am now making my way into the finer parts of this art. One of which is honing. Now, I'm not quite sure that I want to move into full blown honing quite yet and so I am just looking for a good touch-up hone to use about every 20-30 shaves or so and would like to ask the advice of some of the more experienced members.

First off, which would you guys recommend, An oil stone or a water stone? What are the pros and cons of each, and whats the difference?

Next, I have heard quite a bit about the 4k/8k and the chinese 12k hones. Are either of these really any good for touching up a razor, and which one would you recommend? There are also some stones at my local cutlery store that are officially classified as polishing stones but don't have a displayed grit, would these work better?

Thank you in advance for all your help.

Hi.

May I suggest this fine article, written by gssixgun, concerning the many aspects and choices you have?
I find it a very good read.

The article above really say's it all. Not much more to add. Local cutlery stores leave something to be desired when it comes to straight razors. They're geared more towards knives. Two different ball parks. Now, Woodcraft has more of what we use, Chinese 12k, DMT, King,etc...As far as Oil and Water, it really depends on what stone your using. The majority of razor hones are water, with a few exceptions, Charnley Forest and Coticule (most use water on the coticule) to name a few. Great starter hones would be the Norton 4/8k combo. In lieu of that, something simple like a Barber's hone will suffice. It should keep you shaving for some time. I used one called a Swaty, religously for about a year or so. The Chinese 12k is good, but very slow.

My only question ... How did you manage to miss the Spokane meet up 3 weeks ago ???? a few of the guys drove over from yer side of the state...


http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...a-meet-up.html

We usually have a smaller meet in the spring too this year will probably be over in the Yakima area or up at my ranch we haven't planned it yet

I would have let you try any of them

I would use a 12k chinese if I were going for a straight off the hone shave, but if it were my only hone, I would make sure I can use both sides of it. The 12k stones are, I'm certain, not 12k in grit size - if you run up a slurry on one with a diamond hone and use very little water, they are a lot more aggressive than given credit for (but that means you won't have a finished edge with slurry, though). Used with straight water, and for a while without lapping so that the stone surface is smooth and worn, and then they have the characteristic fineness people give them credit for.

I did not understand the 12k hone (the one that woodcraft sells) until I'd used mine for razors and played with slurry amounts and water levels. I got one from woodcraft a while ago and tried to use it out of the box on woodworking tools, and it was just too slow compared to a good synthetic stone, and I'd probably still think the same.

Anyway, if you go to a loaded strop (diamonds or cro III or whatever), I would probably get the norton stone because it's a known quantity and is likely to be faster and less critical to technique and water/slurry management. It'll also be more capable if you have a razor of a complex alloy - the chinese stones probably are not going to favor higher chromium alloys a whole lot.

Please stay away from the natural stones for now and stay with one of the three main makers of synthetic waterstones: Naniwa, Norton, or Shapton's. Follow the tutorials by the pro's & you can't go wrong.

You are thinking about things right, at least how I recommend things...learning to touch-up a razor first, then delving into honing.

If you have an opportunity to meet with a group of people at a meet or even an individual who is well versed in honing...you should jump on the opportunity. It will cut your learning curve time & frustrations exponentially.

Honing can be frustrating, expensive (HAD), rewarding, calming, and addictive. You have been warned...

So to just maintain an edge you only really need an 8k and up, correct?

Yes, and for edge maintenance I'd recommend the Naniwa SS 12K.

Cool. I've been waiting a bit to buy a stone to just maintain an edge on a razor from Lynn. Was kinda confused if I needed to go down to an 8k to do it or if a 12k would maintain it just fine.

Excuse me, if all you want to do is touch ups, you can buy a barbers hone from someone here (if available in the classifieds) or ebay, and save some money.