Originally Posted by
myersn024
I've had good luck with all my stone purchases from eBay (including the Welsh slate hones that the OP linked to).... but my experiences may be the exception rather than the rule. If you aren't going to be doing any "real" honing, then I'd just go with a Naniwa 12k or a barber's hone. They're consistent so you know exactly what you're getting, and there's a bunch of guys on the forum that can help you if you're having trouble with it. The naturals are far more fickle, and that can cause a noob honer a lot of trouble.