Thread: Want to try Honing

Chosera 1k, Norton 4/8 and a balsa strop with crox will get you started and then some. A 12k maybe something to consider when you have maxed out your 8k. The 1k is the one to learn IMO as everything rests on the bevel. Its literally 90% of the hone. The rest is just polishing. Many sharpness issues are bevel related. Learn to set a bevel and really set it. Do not pass the 1k until you are 100% sure it is set. And there are many ways to tell. Learn these and you will be golden. Take a half set bevel to the 4k or higher and you will be wasting your time as you cannot polish an edge that isn't there. Sorry for the rant but this was the turning point for me when I went from not knowing whether the blade would shave to being sure of it. And it had nothing to do with the 4/8 or 12k and everything to do with the 1k. Good luck. There is lots to read here and great advice from members.

For me where you start to set a bevel depends on how bad the blade is. For me unless a blade is chippy/raggedy I will start on my 3K Naniwa not my 1K Naniwa. To sure though, what ever level you start the bevel reset at you do not go higher till you are sure it is well and truly set. You really can't polish a turd.

Neither of these lower grits are necessary if you are just maintaining an already good edge that is just starting to go dull. Once you can't maintain a shave ready edge on the higher grit hones then a complete bevel reset on one of the lower grits is necessary.

Which hone/hones you get first will depend on what you are trying to do. Personally, I like the belt and suspenders route and get all the hones at once including something to flatten the hones with. That way you got all the bases covered for whatever comes your way.

Bob