Looking for a new set of intermediate set of hones

[Silents]

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.

[gssixgun]

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...

[Silents]

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?

[RonPopeil]

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.

[Silents]

Sorry I meant nagura to mean slurry stone.

[gugi]

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.

[1holegrouper]

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.

[roughkype]

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

[Sterm]

... 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.

[Silents]

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.