Thread: Stones to start

You're pretty much on the right track there but I think there are better alternatives to the Norton 4k/8k. I own one and use it regularly but it has a lot of set-up issues, i.e. you've got a lot of lapping before the 4k side is really ready for use. I'd recommend you consider a set of Shaptons or Naniwa stones. The Shapton glass stones are really nice and the Naniwa 12k is wonderful finisher.

BTW you probably do need a bevel setter and the Chosera 1000 is a good choice. Forget trying to set bevels on a Norton 4k - you'll grow a lot of grey hairs doing that.

I really believe that the naniwa SS hones are the easiest to use that I've ever found. not saying that there not others out there that are very good but as far as getting a perfect edge the naniwa stones are easier for me. I had a Norton 4/8 and rreally didn't like it . In the past I've owned the Arkansas stones from soft to black hard to translucent and they were good stones .

Go to the meet #1, period.

I mirror what Rezdog said as I too have experience with both sets of stones you are considering. It is normally easier to learn touching up razors first, this way you are learning how to work with a stone at a less aggressive "grit". For example, your favorite razor is starting to tugg a bit. You take it to the freshly lapped 8K and do 20 light x strokes, 100 on linen strop, and 100 on leather. SHave and see if the razor is performing as it used to. If not, repeat. Normally the first touch-up will get it back to where it needed to be.

Once you get used to touching up a razor, you move down the "grits" as your knowledge and feel progresses.

In your first thread, either set will do just fine and are all you will ever need… until you start chasing the extra 2 percent some of us chase.

I prefer the Norton in the middle stones over the Naniwa super stones as they don’t load up as much.

The bevel setter does not matter.

And the 12K super stone is bullet proof, all you will ever need to finish.

But really a 4/8K Norton is all you need to hone and will keep you shaving forever. The 4k can bevel set and the 8K can finish, all but probably 10 percent of us are capable of maxing the 8k performance from that stone. It is a testament of the stone, it is just that versatile of a stone with a very, very wide range.

I have well over 100 stones of all types, I use the 4/8k Norton to hone 95 percent of all razors almost daily.

You are on the right track and splitting hairs, trying them once will probably just confuse you more, but won’t matter, all the stones you listed are great stone, the differences are just nuances of how they feel, performance is the same.

Do go to a meet you, will learn a lot hands on, and will gain light years of insight. It really is the little details or tricks that make a big difference… anyone can rub a blade on a stone…

When you come to the meet-up next week, will also get a chance to try each of the hones you have mentioned, and a few more.

This is all really good info. The meet up is going to be more helpful than I realize now. But at least that will help me learn more about honing, answer any questions that arise and should help prepare me to get what I want. Thanks guys!

+1 to all of the above, the first priority IMO would be to get to that meet.
I started out by getting the Norton 1,4,8k individual stones and I'm very happy I went that way. There is so much info here on the forum using that set up, I believe it helped me allot.
At the meet you will be amazed at what you will learn, do yourself a favor and get there.