Thread: Looking for a new set of intermediate set of hones

Ok guys, I've been honing for about a year and have about 250 under my belt. My current set- up is Naniwaa 1-3-5-8-12k's and a DMT 325 for lapping. My current budget is about $300. I've been looking at the Welsh stones that are on eBay and there are a few threads about them on SRP. They go for $120 for the three hones.

Any other suggestions within my price range? Or maybe just one or two stones within my budget.

You are going to be hard pressed to get a noticeable improvement from the full set of Naniwa SS hones that you have..

Looking at a "Different feel" I would look to Naturals, The Slates are a fun set, and J-nat would be excellent to have considering you just posted about Kamisori razors
A high quality Thüringen or Coticule would be a nice diversion also...

Glenn, what's your opinion of the Shuobudani 100 stone? Also they only offer the same stone as a nagura. Would you recommend a different stone? Or types of nagura?

You'd have to stretch your budget for a large nagura. I'm guessing you're talking about the smaller ones. To my knowledge those are intended to be used as a slurry stone on top of a finishing stone. Not sure how that would work on your 12k.

Check out the JNS site. He has a few level 4 and level 5 stones for $180-230. That would be the next logical step unless you wanted to replace a step in your naniwa progression.

Sorry I meant nagura to mean slurry stone.

You really ought to start by figuring out what do you want another hone for.

- Something you have problem honing with your current set? You have to identify what's causing the problem
- Different feedback during honing? What kind of feedback do you want?
- Different honing procedure, i.e. grit progression using different slurry? Then you need a finishing hone and method to produce slurry in wide range of properties.
- Just another hone because you have a spare $300 and a new toy to see how much difference you can get out of it? Get small high quality thuringian, coticule, and/or japanese hone - whatever you can fit in $300.

So far you have a set of stones that are practical and logical. Before this, make sure you don't skimp on a quality strop. Going beyond this starts a hobby IMHO. While you are at it clear out a room for your impending collection, lol. Going beyond this, for many of us, starts the fun factor. Going beyond this also doesn't necessarily make a blade sharper (if you did it right on 1-12K) but, like Glen says, produces a different feel. There are a lot of great final finishers out there. Some folks go the pasted strop route- I have these and they work well but to me are not as fun as a good finishing stone. Others stop at 8K and go straight to leather from there. It's all a matter of personal preference, what your face likes and experimentation. I use a Zulu Grey and I find it nearly miraculous. It's fairly new on the scene, perhaps overhyped, but I took a chance on it and I'm glad I did. Other great ones are; Escher, Jnats (a very confusing and very expensive world this is), Charnley Forests, etc. I don't know much about the Welsh stones. Being 50% Welsh I should! The funny thing is that the better you get at honing the less you really need these fancy and sometimes costly stones.

PS; if you want to stay synthetic I've heard great things on this forum and others about the Suehiro Gokumyo 20,000 grit hone. Especially after a progression from the Naniwa SS's.

I agree that with 1holegrouper, that you should try a hone from a different family. You've got a great collection of waterstones and probably a good sense of how they behave. Try a novaculite (hard Arkansas, Turkish oilstone, Charnley) or something else you can go to after your N12k. Or a nice coti, for a different feel. Or pinch your pennies until you can afford an Escher.

I have stayed away from Jnats so far, because they inhabit what seems to me a very dangerous rabbit hole. I think I'd rather buy a boat than venture down that one. Or an Escher.

The Welsh set might be interesting, but I also agree that they wouldn't add any new capabilities or significantly different experience to what you've already got. But hey, it's your money... have fun with it!

Best wishes

Originally Posted by 1holegrouper

... The funny thing is that the better you get at honing the less you really need these fancy and sometimes costly stones...

I would suggest that you take a new set 3/8/12 naniwa that you can lap slightly convex (large curved charmfers on both sides) and use it for difficult razors with a warped blade.

Thank you all for the advice and information. I've ordered both the Welsh Stones and a small (150mm x 50mm) coticule. I can't wait to give these wonderful stones a shot. I currently have 4 razors that need honing, so I'll have some to work on immediately.