Thread: Torn between two honing sets

Buy both. I would learn on the Norton but the Naniwas are very nice.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Here is my recommendation, hope funds allow it.
325 DMT diamond
1k Chosera
4/8k Norton
12k Super stone

That should be as versatile as it gets.

Bullet Proof...

Gotta buy a 1K and a DMT lapping plate

The rest:

Naniwa Supers 5K, 8K, 12k
Suehiro 20k

I'd go with Mainaman's suggestions. The 220 is useless, and the Chosera 1k is much, much better than the Norton 1k, which is just plain way too thirsty--you'll spend half your honing time adding water to it.

In the middle, the Norton 4k and 8k are great. The Naniwa 3k I would consider to be preferable to the 5k in this series but either the Naniwa 3k or 5k and the Naniwa 8k are also great hones.

Finishing with the Naniwa 12k will be an easy and consistent hone.

The Suehiro 20k is an excellent next step but it will only provide a subtle improvement over the Naniwa 12k. You only need to buy it if you really want to spend a lot more money on a little more improvement.

If you want a cheap option, get yourself a fine barber home. The 3 line Swaty provides an excellent shave. Just 10 strokes after the 8k. There are others as well. Look out for the wording used on the box of the lakeside hone. I've found that any hone with similar wording is also very fine.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I'd go with Mainaman's suggestions. The 220 is useless, and the Chosera 1k is much, much better than the Norton 1k, which is just plain way too thirsty--you'll spend half your honing time adding water to it.

In the middle, the Norton 4k and 8k are great. The Naniwa 3k I would consider to be preferable to the 5k in this series but either the Naniwa 3k or 5k and the Naniwa 8k are also great hones.

Finishing with the Naniwa 12k will be an easy and consistent hone.

The Suehiro 20k is an excellent next step but it will only provide a subtle improvement over the Naniwa 12k. You only need to buy it if you really want to spend a lot more money on a little more improvement.

I am by no means an expert in "Honing" much less the art of using a Straight Razor. when I was a young man (too long ago to remember) My Uncle Ralph taught me how to Hone a knife and then he taught me how to "Hone a Straight Razor" I have not done it or used a Straight Razor for almost 40 plus years.
I have to agree with Utopian and Euclid440. Good Luck. I think we both probably need it. This is a learning curve for sure.

[QUOTE=Utopian;1474717]I'd go with Mainaman's suggestions. The 220 is useless, and the Chosera 1k is much, much better than the Norton 1k, which is just plain way too thirsty--you'll spend half your honing time adding water to it.

The above statement is so true I started with the Norton system (1k,4k and 8k) and the lapping stone. The Norton 1k I have since replaced with a Chosera 1k and for me worlds apart, as I really dont have to water it any where near as much and its a quicker cutter.
Cant say I use the 4k much, nothing against it I just like my Dalmore blue better, the Norton 8k I like and its always in my set-up.

Please bear in mind I am nowhere near as experienced as most of the guys on here, but I know what works for me and I like what Im using.

I learned the fundamentals on the Norton system, now my synthetic set up consists of Naniwas and a Suehiro to finish. If I had to purchase only one set then I would go with Mainaman's suggested set-up.

Jledesma22, if you are in the greater LA area, before you attempt to hone your own razors based solely on what you have experienced by reading and watching videos and judging what Ross cutlery has done, I suggest that you contact one of the below listed and see if you can get one-on-one instruction on honing. They are listed on our Local Help list and are available for 'in person' help.

Euclid440 (Diamond Bar)
10pups (Orange)
RoyalCake (Torrance)
Voidmonster (Oceanside)

PM any one of them. They have frequent mini get togethers and go over a lot of things each time.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Here is my recommendation, hope funds allow it.
325 DMT diamond
1k Chosera
4/8k Norton
12k Super stone

That should be as versatile as it gets.

This is your best entry point. If you want the convenience of naniwa' spray and go, you can sub the Norton 4/8 for a individual naniwas. But there's nothing they would do that the nortons don't beyond not having to soak.