Thread: honing

hi, im new to honing. ive sharpened japanese knives, i have a naniwa 400, a norton 3000/8000, a naniwa 12,000, and a balsa with chromium oxide, i wanted to know based on my equipment what would be the BEST method to use how many strokes with/without pressure on which stone that i would get the best results. thanks in advance

With those hones I would tape the spine and almost set the bevel with 400, refresh the tape. Finish the bevel set on the 3k, remove the tape and reset the bevel. The number of passes needed for a bevel set varies widely.

Do a test shave, like the in Beginners, The 1k shave.

Once the bevel is set, proceed with a pyramid honing regime.

Jonathan

I would really add a 1k in your progression to make life easier. Jumping 400 ->3k may require more lapping of the 3k than would be fun & 400 is a bit coarse for light bevel setting.
Pressure & strokes are totally dependent on the razor.
Use magnification. Learn the tests TNT & TPT, if you haven't already then how many strokes will be more obvious.

i dont have a 1000 stone thought, i have an expensive new thiers issard waiting for the bevel to be set. is it risky jumping from 400 to 3000?

On a "New" TI the 3k - 4k should be more then fine to correct the bevel

Take a look at the JaNorton thread it has a ton of tricks about how to use the Norton 4/8 that also work on a Naniwa 3/8 not sure which you actually have from your post..

You only need lower to set a "Heavy" bevel and new TI is a light bevel set...

youre right it is a 4000/8000 norton sorry my bad. whats the difference between a heavy bevel set and a light one? what would be the best approach with the 4000/8000 and my 12000 naniwa....how many circles with pressure/without pressure and which i should use x strokes etc

See the word JaNorton above ??? Click on it, you are going to find all the answers and not just from "Experts" that thread has input from all types of Honers from first timers to Pro's

Heavy bevel set is something like an Ebaby that has no bevel and a rough start

Light bevel is a new TI or Dovo or a razor that was shaving recently and just needs to be brought back..

That thread has it all


Being a Knife guy you have probably heard the saying "It is much easier to keep a knife sharp then to sharpen a knife" sorta like that