Thread: 'Affordable' 8000 grit stone

Deciding that honing is something i want to become profecient at (i enjoy sharpening blades of all kinds) i'm looking for an 8000 grit stone. However the prices are incredible ! I picked up a Japanese combi-stone (1000 & 6000) and nagura for £30 a few years back. I don't begrudge paying that sort of money for what is, essentially, 'a stone'.

However looking at prices for an 8000 the price really rockets. The absolute cheapest i can find is about £50 not including shipping. Is there really no cheaper alternative ?

In the uk... think realy cheaper they dont go.
Razor Hones

Thanks for the link.

NB - Going to be back in Amsterdam again myself in a month or two . Best city in the world

I have a "king" 8k.. It works fine.

I've actually been looking around the last couple of days for the cheapest starter hones I can find. Anyway, I in no way vouch for this but for what it's worth I've seen people calling Dragon's Tongue 8k-10k grit on eBay: Slate Honing Stones for sale by Inigo Jones

Someone else can comment on whether it's suitable or not; I know nothing.

The Dragon's Tongues are good stones imo especially for the price.

The Yellow Lake is a good alternative as well the one i got from UK in cardboard sleeve not salmens turn out to be in the 9k range
definately a little finer then 8k norton, i use mine as a pre-finisher.

There are quite a few naturals which might fit the bill, although there may be an element of luck involved.

After my king 6k I have a selection of cheap naturals I turn to. For £30 you could get a small coticule, a big Chinese natural or a Muller grindstone. At worst you may get something slightly below 8k at best you may get a high end finisher.

Belgian Coticule Hones
New Chinese Water Hone Waterstone for straight razor | eBay
Olivia's handgemachte Naturseifen

Thanks for the info chaps

Dear Prophet:

I understand your hesitation for spending large amounts of money for a "stone" but this is why they are expensive:

1- the man made stones are expensive because of their facilities and engineers and all that jazz
2- natural stones are expensive because of a) costs of excavation and mining b) rareness of the stones and supply vs demand.

I hope you have a good decision at the as to what to do

Dan