Thread: Want to get started honing

Hello all! I want to start honing. I've watched the videos on you tube so now I'm an expert right! That's why I'm asking your advice. What do I need to buy? How can I get it right the first time? What advice can you offer me? For a lack of a better term....dumb it down for me please. Thanks for the help!

There have been threads on this before - answered by some of the most experienced experts. Would be a good idea to look for them.
There are many, many hones to chose from that will do a satisfactory job.
I think the heart of the matter is to pick the stones that will do a great job and not leave you feeling you have not gotten your money's worth. You should feel that further stones are a luxury - not a necessity. (You will always WANT more stones, but the goal is for you to not really NEED them).
It is also important to know if you plan on maintaining an already ok razor or to fully restore old, beat-up razors. If you are looking to do the former, you probably only need stone #3.
If you are going to sharpen a lot of different razors, you will eventually need to get a lot of different kinds of hones. As Randy Tuttle noted in his interview - Obie's Conversations - hard steel/soft stone - soft steel/hard stone.
1. Bevel setter - hands down standard is the Chosera 1000 grit. Much less effective: Naniwa, Norton, King, etc.
2. Smoother - the standard is the Norton 4000/8000. The Naniwa 3000/8000 is ok too. Coticules and Shaptons are good.
3. Finisher - there are many to choose from. I am fond of the Welsh purple slate. Charnley forest, Thurigians, Shaptons and Japanese naturals are also all good.

Read this thread if you haven't already http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...rt-honing.html

If I had it to do over again I'd get a DMT D8C 325 diamond plate to lap my waterstones and to sharpen kitchen knives

Chosera 1k bevel setting

Norton 4/8 to sharpen and finish

I'd stop there and not buy a finisher until the shaves were real good with the 4/8k. Then I'd probably go for a naniwa 12k.

With that in the toolbox you can look for more exotic finishers and experiment if the bug bites you. Just IMHO.

Thanks for the help guys!

Like Jimmy said the DMT 325 is a must for lapping your stones. Get the big one, 8x3.

the norton 4/8 is the best beginning hone IMO. It is easy to learn on, they're all the same so when people advise you on the stone you know they're using the same stone and yours works the same. Natural stones like Coticules are not going to be easy that way as they vary in speed and hardness.

For Bevels I really like the DMT-E with the 1200 grit mesh, it's so fast it's not even funny, it does wear the spine faster though. The naniwa 1000 is on the slower side but easier on the spines, and the Chosera 1000 is great all together but pricey.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Read this thread if you haven't already http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...rt-honing.html

If I had it to do over again I'd get a DMT D8C 325 diamond plate to lap my waterstones and to sharpen kitchen knives

Chosera 1k bevel setting

Norton 4/8 to sharpen and finish

I'd stop there and not buy a finisher until the shaves were real good with the 4/8k. Then I'd probably go for a naniwa 12k.

With that in the toolbox you can look for more exotic finishers and experiment if the bug bites you. Just IMHO.

I have been trying to get an acceptable edge going thru the 8k and except using a coti ,I have to admit, I have never been able to acheve success stopping at the 8k..

I agree with all the above but try as I might I always have to go to a high number synthetic or a thuri or escher to get a happy edge.

Stingray

Originally Posted by Disburden

Like Jimmy said the DMT 325 is a must for lapping your stones. Get the big one, 8x3.

the norton 4/8 is the best beginning hone IMO. It is easy to learn on, they're all the same so when people advise you on the stone you know they're using the same stone and yours works the same. Natural stones like Coticules are not going to be easy that way as they vary in speed and hardness.

For Bevels I really like the DMT-E with the 1200 grit mesh, it's so fast it's not even funny, it does wear the spine faster though. The naniwa 1000 is on the slower side but easier on the spines, and the Chosera 1000 is great all together but pricey.

Not many will admit to using a dmt to setting a bevel. I usually use my chosera or super or shapton 1k for this but if I have a rough edge with micro chips I do use my DMT.

One bit of advice I got from 6gun is always tape the spine and you never have to worry about putting wear on it. aNd also the feedback from the stone is all edge not spine. JMHO.
Stingray