Thread: Do you get good results using Nortons and Nani's in the same progression?

I was just wondering. I have the Norton 4/8 and want to know how well it works to use that in between my Nani 3k, 5k, and so on. I also have a King 6k that I use in the progression but was wondering if even that was a good idea. Since the Nortons seem to be a little harder and rougher how does it work out to use them with the softer stones?I know I don't even NEED to use all these stones but figure it may give my edge just that little bit extra.

So you can do a 3k, 4k, 5k, 6k, 8k progression?

Good Lord, man. It'll never work without a 7k.

Originally Posted by ccase39

I was just wondering. I have the Norton 4/8 and want to know how well it works to use that in between my Nani 3k, 5k, and so on. I also have a King 6k that I use in the progression but was wondering if even that was a good idea. Since the Nortons seem to be a little harder and rougher how does it work out to use them with the softer stones?I know I don't even NEED to use all these stones but figure it may give my edge just that little bit extra.

why give yourself all that work? just set the bevel use the 4/8 K and a finisher and be done with it. I use a 1k a3k an 8k and a 12 K and I get a great shave from that, using the pyramid technique. however I have only honed a few razors but for a beginner they all come out great for me! that's just my 2 cents you might wanna wait around for the real honemeisters!

It won't give you anything extra, but it should be said, that most times when someone is looking for that little bit extra, it's because they didn't get it at 1k. Meaning bevel work.

Every single razor I've ever honed that needed "that little bit extra", was in need of further work at 1k.

Adding additional mid grit stones is more than likely not the solution.

But to your question: Yes you can use a combination of stones from different manufacturers. I use a Chosera 1k, Norton 4/8, then sometimes a Naniwa12k, and sometimes a vintage thuringian.

Regardless of the relative hardness of a stone, the same amount of (or absence of) pressure is being applied. Hardness, as it relates to stones, changes the feel of the stone while honing, but shouldn't affect the outcome, as it relates to synthetic water stones. That changes when talking about natural stones somewhat(stone dependant).

Taking smaller steps up the ladder works
The Shapton run of 1-2-4-6-8-16-30 or the Naniwa SS run of 1-3-5-8-10-12

However those are all the same series and brands so the steps are nicely laid out using all the same Grits and Binders, jumping around between brands and even series of hone within a brand may or may not give the same results.. You have to experiment and see, who knows you might create the Perfect Pyramid... I can tell you that the progression you chose is not going to cut perfectly in order by Grit numbers Synthetics don't always work that way.. ie: I have said this many times "I only know for sure that a Norton 8k is higher in grit then a Norton 4k I do not know for sure that a Norton 4k is a "More fine" hone then a Naniwa SS 3k"

All this is getting into the realm of chasing edges also, there is chasing a comfortable shave and then there is chasing edges just for the sake of chasing the edge

There's lot's of ways to do it, and as we like to say, "YMMV" For the longest time, I used the Naniwa progression above, 1,3,5,8,10 and 12k with great results. Your doing less work on each after setting the bevel, the most important step. After that it's small steps. I always felt it gave a better finished product. This is subjective, as are most things in this hobby.

As of late, I'm using the Shapton GS stones. I find them to be a bit faster in most cases. You can of course set your bevel on the 1k, use the 4/8 and be done with it. Just experiment a bit, and see what works for you. Get a jeweler's loupe so you can see the bevel, and check the scratch pattern as you go.

When I had all of those, except the king, I used an either/or approach. I did a pyramid, or a progression, with the norton and then went to a naniwa 12k. Alternatively I would use naniwa 3k, 5k and 12k IIRC. Using the norton 4/8 and the naniwa 3/5 is more or less the same thing AFAIC. (going by the Japanese grit charts) YMMV.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Taking smaller steps up the ladder works
The Shapton run of 1-2-4-6-8-16-30 or the Naniwa SS run of 1-3-5-8-10-12

However those are all the same series and brands so the steps are nicely laid out using all the same Grits and Binders, jumping around between brands and even series of hone within a brand may or may not give the same results.. You have to experiment and see, who knows you might create the Perfect Pyramid... I can tell you that the progression you chose is not going to cut perfectly in order by Grit numbers Synthetics don't always work that way.. ie: I have said this many times "I only know for sure that a Norton 8k is higher in grit then a Norton 4k I do not know for sure that a Norton 4k is a "More fine" hone then a Naniwa SS 3k"

All this is getting into the realm of chasing edges also, there is chasing a comfortable shave and then there is chasing edges just for the sake of chasing the edge

Thats what I was getting at. I know you don't NEED to use every stone in a progression and I do just fine using the 4/8 only but I am having a lot of fun playing with my hones and experimenting. Most of the time I go Chorosa, Nani 3k, Nani 5k, Nani 8k and then the 12. Since the Nanis seem to produce a smoother more polished edge I thought going to the Norton in between may negate that. Someone asked why I would do all that and my answer would be just for the hell of it, for fun. I have a bunch of different stones so might as well use them. Funny thing happened today on a side not. My ex called me and she said I received a package at her house (that I never got any of my mail delivered to in the first place). I haven't lived there for over a year, well before I started straight shaving. In the box was a Nani 1k from some apothecary store. I have no idea in hell how or why or who sent this. I sure didn't order it and nobody I know that would send gifts even knows that address. Is anyone familiar with Merz Apothocary? Thats where it came from.

I throw random 1k stones around when people need more bevel work. You've never heard of the hone fairy? :-)

Originally Posted by ccase39

Thats what I was getting at. I know you don't NEED to use every stone in a progression and I do just fine using the 4/8 only but I am having a lot of fun playing with my hones and experimenting. Most of the time I go Chorosa, Nani 3k, Nani 5k, Nani 8k and then the 12. Since the Nanis seem to produce a smoother more polished edge I thought going to the Norton in between may negate that. Someone asked why I would do all that and my answer would be just for the hell of it, for fun. I have a bunch of different stones so might as well use them. Funny thing happened today on a side not. My ex called me and she said I received a package at her house (that I never got any of my mail delivered to in the first place). I haven't lived there for over a year, well before I started straight shaving. In the box was a Nani 1k from some apothecary store. I have no idea in hell how or why or who sent this. I sure didn't order it and nobody I know that would send gifts even knows that address. Is anyone familiar with Merz Apothocary? Thats where it came from.

Lol right now thats the best theory I have.