I apologize for my impatience...

But I should really be working on my chemistry homework and not on straight razors! I know I could use the wiki or the search feature for this, but I'm looking for a quick answer to a hopefully quick question.

I would like to buy a full honing setup ASAP. I currently own some Boker Japanese water stones at 600, 1000 and 1500 grit.

Am I correct in thinking that all I need is a norton 4k/8k and some brand of 10k or greater to complete my setup?

I'm not too concerned about price, I really want to get some quality tools to work with. Could anyone recommend some stores (online or brick and mortar) to finish off what I need?

Thank you all very much, and again I must apologize for my impatience.

All you really need is the 4/8. If you want the 10 or better I highly recommend Naniwa.

I've ordered most all my hones from SRD, when I was buying they had the best prices around with shipping figured in... and I like to support Lynn and Don, as they are friends of mine. I know they carry the Naniwa and Norton if you decide to go that route.

The research that I did on hones led me to the Norton 4k/8k combo and I have not had an issue with them at all. I also got the Norton lapping stone. I am waiting on getting a finishing stone until I can consistently keep my razors sharp and shave ready off the 8k. I am getting better at it and have had some great results the more I hone.

I found my hone at Woodcraft. I did find them cheaper online but after shipping it was about the same. They do have a store near you: Find a Woodcraft Store Near You - Woodcraft.com

*Norton 1k is next on my list to get.

I would really love to see some pics of your Boker Japanese waterstones? ! 4/8k Norton should fill in the blanks.

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I would really love to see some pics of your Boker Japanese waterstones? ! 4/8k Norton should fill in the blanks.

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https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...5969886825.jpghttp://matthewscutlery.com/ProductIm...40-BR01374.jpghttp://matthewscutlery.com/ProductIm...40-BR01373.jpghttp://matthewscutlery.com/ProductIm...40-BR01375.jpg

The modular paddle strop at SRD is a good tool. I don't use the leather pieces that much, unless I'm travelling. The two hard felt pieces are on it almost all the time, one with 0.5u diamond and the other with CrOx.

The prevailing wisdom here is that you should only hone up to 8k as you're learning, then move on to the 12k after you can consistently get nice shaves off the 8.

The most helpful thing in my own honing studies was a professionally honed "reference blade" so I could know how a properly sharp blade felt. Also important is a good magnifier. I find a 10x is enough. A Hastings triplet will give you the best edge to edge clarity. Last time I looked, Bausch & Lomb was the most economical.

I'm in Grand Junction and there's a good cluster of members in Denver. You should journey over for the Denver meetup next summer. Check the google map for other members around SLC.

Best wishes and happy shopping.

Just wanted to drop a quick note to say thank you again to everyone who replied to this thread. I received my hones, lapping stone, and loupe today and a local SRP member is going to help me with how to use them. You guys rock!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/...c024153a_b.jpg

Rather than buy a high grit finisher buy the Norton and a 1000 grit stone for bevels, like a naniwa 1K or a Shapton 1K. You can set a bevel on the 4K side of the norton but it takes a while unless you use a slurry and I don't recommend a slurry on a Norton stone for a new user...

When you learn the Nortn 4/8K stone you can shave off it very easily.