Thread: good first stones

i think its a good start with 4000/8000 and i think you can get a shave ready with it, sometimes i set a bevel with 4000 norton.
good luck!!!

The norton is a great stone.. But to me the most important stone is my bevel setter. U can set a bevel wiith a 4 k sure it will take a good amount. Of time.. I would invest in a great bevel setter like a chosera 1k before I would look at a finisher.. The 8k Right to a pasted strop and then linen and leather will serve u Well. If funds are tight why not get some lapping paper to finish on like a 12 k lapping paper.. For a few bucks u can get some sheets to last u along time..just till u get ur feet wet

I thought this was a pretty good offer for a starter set.

Norton Waterstone Starter Kit: 220/1000 grit stone, 4000/8000 grit stone, SiC flattening stone: Sharpening Stones: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

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As a total newbie I offer be careful. I borq'd my stones in a matter seconds not knowing what I was doing or understanding what I was working with. It took me the next two days of lapping to clean the damage up. I learned the hard way to let the stone do the work for they gouge very easily.

For ever on the learning curve, sometimes the hard way but, loving every minute of it.

Yup, it is all you need.

4k Norton will set a bevel in probably 40-60 laps on previously honed razor. An 8k will easily touch up a razor in fewer laps, 20-40 and with plain old linen and leather give you a fine shaving edge.

You can add a Chrome oxide paddle strop, a 3 in piece of veg tan leather glued to a flat piece of wood and lightly coated with Chrome Oxide and that can give you a very nice, keen, comfortable edge. Chrome Oxide is about 30k grit.

But for efficiency, low cost entry and long term maintenance the 4/8k Norton is all you need.

Understand that the Norton pair was the go to set when this forum began. A lot of people honed a lot of razors with those hones so they are well understood and you can get a lot of help and advice regarding the use of the Nortons.

There is going to be a Missouri mini meet-up coming up soon. It might be worth the 3 hour drive to go there and meet up with a few people with more than a few hones.

I have been shaving with the 220/1K/4K/8K combo for about a year, I then got the welsh slate from AJ to finish and have stopped using Crox/Irox. There is a stack of info on here about the Nortons and they are consistent, these were my primary reasons for starting with them.

thanks for the input i went ahead and ordered the Norton 220/1000 4000/8000 set with the lapping stone

Originally Posted by Utopian

There is going to be a Missouri mini meet-up coming up soon. It might be worth the 3 hour drive to go there and meet up with a few people with more than a few hones.

Mburk5,
This is really good advice. At the minimum meet up with Ozarkedger . These guys can teach you a lot. Best would be to pick up Ozarkedger and take him to KC with you.

Yeah i seen that,would love to be able to go to one of those,too bad my weekends for the next few months are shot

The Norton lapping stone is notorious for not being able to properly lap your other stones without being flattened itself. Do that before screwing up your other stones!