800 too coarse foe Bevel Setting?

I haven't honed a razor yet, but I can feel the bug coming close so I have some questions. I'd like to buy a Norton 4k/8k. I've been reading through the Janorton Thread. I happen to have a King 800/4000k combination hone that I got years ago. I have read that a 1000k stone is the standard for bevel setting. I can set a bevel on a Norton 4/8 but seems like it would be easier with a 1k. Is this right? If so, could I just use the King 800 or is that too aggressive. I will be honing a Boker King Cutter (a couple of years old). It's not in real bad shape but does need to be honed. I may kill the edge first to have a good start.

That is aproximate :) The Kings are pretty gentle anyway so you should be fine..

Using a "Bevel setter" is faster that doesn't always mean the same thing as easier :( but generally speaking Yes once you know how to use it, and more importantly when to use it, a Bevel setter is easier :p

I wouldn't kill the edge unless it needs it, if you drop to the 800 that is going to effectively change the edge anyway...

I think that 800 is fine. I use a 1000 grit most of the time but on stubborn bevels I sometimes use a 600 DMT.

Killing the edge will give you a more difficult start and lots of work you don't need to do, not to mention removing more steel than necessary. If there is a cardinal sin in honing, removing more than the required amount of steel is it.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

That is aproximate :) The Kings are pretty gentle anyway so you should be fine..
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i was gonna say that the king 800 dosent feel that much more aggressive then a nani 1k to me , i bought a 800 cause i thought it would be easier to take out small chips & dings then my 1k nani .. i was wrong , my 800 & 1k work about the same speed and not enough noticeable difference to me . i use the side of mine on warped blades now with great success .. i know one thing for sure though !! my king is like a fish !! it needs a lot of water

Ok, great. So I don't need to run out and buy a bevel setter. I was only thinking about killing the edge because that was one of the requirements of the Janorton experiment. Although, somewhere Lynn said that starting at the 4K (or 800 for that matter) would effectively change the edge anyway. So, other than to removed chips and such, what would be the purpose of killing the edge on glass or the like? Some of the blades ised in Janorton were in good shape. By blade is in ok shape right now but just isn't shaving well anymore.

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Originally Posted by danxaz

Ok, great. So I don't need to run out and buy a bevel setter. I was only thinking about killing the edge because that was one of the requirements of the Janorton experiment. Although, somewhere Lynn said that starting at the 4K (or 800 for that matter) would effectively change the edge anyway. So, other than to removed chips and such, what would be the purpose of killing the edge on glass or the like? Some of the blades ised in Janorton were in good shape. By blade is in ok shape right now but just isn't shaving well anymore.

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Sometimes you new guys make me smile, as you will latch onto the most obscure part of something :)
The Killing of the edge in that thread was brought up ONLY as an idea to start everyone with an edge that didn't shave and to "For Sure" create a 4/8 edge..
To bring a already shaving razor and then do some light laps on the 4/8 would have not really taught anybody anything..

In real life Killing an edge is just not really needed, the TNT is a light version of the same principle, and will also smooth out your edge but much more gently.. So as you set the bevel, you test it using the TNT that smooths it up, and you do a few more laps and move on... If you have actual damage this entire conversation changes ...

This thread is an example on why the usual recommendation used to be the Norton 4/8. It was so widely used that there is a wide knowledge base and new honers could get plenty of advice because most of us knew the stone.

The shaptons and the naniwa superstones, only available the past 4 or 5 years, came later. They've been around long enough now to also have a wide knowledge base. The King 800 not so much, but fortunately enough members have used it to give advice. I've never had one. Anyway, that is why it is a good idea to use stones that have a broad following. Plenty of experience to glean info if the new honer is having problems.

It Will Do the Job fine.
I use chosera 600, its superb!

The chosera 800 is fantastic. I love it as my bevel setter.

I have the King 800 and use it quite often. As Glen said, it's a gentle cutter, and once learned, sets a nice bevel. I found it works best with softer steel. Just my experience.

Thanks guys. I was thinking of selling it to get a norton 4/8 but I guess a might as well give it a go.

I think the 800 grit stone will work just fine. An added benefit of the extra grit over 1000 is that you can concentrate on using less pressure and just allow the stone to do its work. I always just add more laps instead of pressure. Setting a bevel can take time and patience. Those who run out of patience and add pressure to speed things up usually pay a price in compromised technique.

bevel setting is where its at. you can polish a lousy angle all day and it wont shave worth a damn. trust me, I know. :)

I use aan 8 k, if that helps... Not a hone meister, but I have rode that horse more than once..

I used an 800 & 1200 King on razors a couple of years. A little extra time on a 4k would make the 1200 superfluous if you like to use fewer stones but the scratch pattern between the 2 Kings is quite obvious. The King 800 is gentle enough to mimic some 1k's .