New Stone!

I recently acquired a 1000/3000 Suehiro SKG-27 Toishi combo stone. I know that it's a ceramic stone, it cuts very quickly.

Goodness me it is a great stone, but in truth, I've not much experience with stones... Can anyone offer any advice in order to get the most out of them?

I also have an Aloxite Barber's Hone (which is roughly 5K-6K grit size ~I think, maybe a bit less~) and an Escher Stone which is Blue-Green stone I'm pretty sure (being a natural it doesn't have a grit but would be around 13K-14K equivalent I've read). See this post for more info

I've been getting nice results but under magnification with a loupe (30x) I can still see some very very very fine (completely invisible to the naked eye) jagged edges. How can I get rid of these?

The razors will pass a HHT most of the time after they come off the stones and will pop my stray beard hairs clean off 7 times out of 10 but I reckon there is more to be found from these stones.

Thanks all, very much appreciate your help.

Did you lap and bevel the stones?

Are you making the 3k to Escher jump or are you hoping to fil in with the barber hone? I think you are at best optimistic with your grit rating on the barber hone.

I cannot find any reviews on this stone, it could be it is just too aggressive, much like honing on Diamonds, usually this is the case with inexpensive hones.

Yea, maybe, it could be done, but at least an 8k would make your life a lot easier. An edge will not get straight until after 8k so you are polishing a rough edge.

You could get the best edge possible on the barber hone, polishing off all the 3k stria on the barber hone, then joint the edge and reset on the Escher. A lot of laps, a lot… and you are just wasting a great stone.

A tall order, for an experienced honer. Buy a 4/8k Norton if you really plan on honing razors.

I go to an Escher, after a good, straight 12k super stone edge, you are light years away from that.

Thanks Euclid!

I'm basing the grit rating from this post...

It's a very old stone and it did seem to improve the edge from the 3k Suehiro, but that's only from examining the edge with a loupe at 30x mag.

I think it may be worth investing in the 8k stone. Although the budget is a bit tight at the moment. I'll raise a purchase order with SWMBO.

You know I find maxing the edge on the barber hone prior to going to a natural is key. You've really got to give it all it's got on the aloxite. If your 3k work is good I see no reason why you can't go barber hone - Escher.

These suggestions for 4/8 are always given. For good reason, a lot of people use that type of progression and know it like the back of their hand. Take Euclid for example. A genius with a 4/8, could help you with any problem you have. You'll have a harder time getting tips from a person who throws a barber hone into the mix. Only because not many people do it..

I rarely use my 8k, (that's because I don't really know how) but when I did I found I could get to the same relative place without.

It may be useful to you but at the same time it may provide you with nothing more then what you've got.

Either way nice to see you making use of the aloxite.

Cheers man,

There's not a lot of info on the Aloxite hone, and when I asked the company, they basically just repeated everything I had told them I knew about it :(

It's not a bad one though :) maybe one day I'll be able to help someone else once i figure it out :)

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Originally Posted by andrewmurray86

Cheers man,

There's not a lot of info on the Aloxite hone, and when I asked the company, they basically just repeated everything I had told them I knew about it :(

It's not a bad one though :) maybe one day I'll be able to help someone else once i figure it out :)

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I have about 5 different barber hones and no matter the name on it, it's true potential is discovered through use. No matter what anyone says about it. Too many variables such as how it was stored, state of the binder, quality control at the factory, surface condition, etc to say "all x brand hones are the same"

Have you shaved off just the aloxite yet?

No, always finished with the Escher.

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Originally Posted by andrewmurray86

No, always finished with the Escher.

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Maybe you should do a little test and get it shaving well off the barber hone before going to the Escher. Kind of like getting it good on the 8k before going to the 12k. Except it's not the same.

I found this exercise

1) decently challenging but not too hard, takes a bit of trial and error along with testing

2) Humbling, if nothing else it shows it can be done. (Combined with a serious stropping)

I may get lit up for supporting this type of behaviour, but I do believe in it.

With a 1000, 3000. Aloxite barber hone, and the German Escher you should be getting a good shave. I recommend buying a bunch of things you don't need because the one with the most toys wins! lol But I don't think your going to find some magic out there in the Norton. Curiosity has made me purchase different things just to see. It wasn't a waste of money they all work well, but so did the hones I already had.

One more thing. I know you have a nice Escher, but I like to try different thing out just for fun. Finish with the Aloxite and give it a go. I have one of those hone and I like it . Experimenting is good and fun . I finished with a black Arkansas and it actually shave well. :beer1:

Yea, 6k at best, the problem is an Escher is a polisher, not a lot of range like the 12k Super Stone.

So you will either waste a lot of Escher stone or bite the bullet and buy a 4/8 Norton or 12k Super Stone.

The super stone is an amazing stone, that can set a bevel in a pinch, as can the 4/8 Norton. With those two, you really don’t need the 1/3 or the barber hone.

So is the barber hone removing all the 1/3k stria?

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

So is the barber hone removing all the 1/3k stria?

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Mostly It would appear but I only have 30x magnification available.

Well, you could go the Escher and it will tell you right away how much 1 & 3K stria is still left, then polish it out with the barber hone, if it is fine enough, then a lot of laps on the Escher.

You know, I did A bit of a test today, it turns out that the bevel and the stria are much nicer after the 3K Suehiro than from the Aloxite hone. I didn't really pay attention to the scratches or stria left on the endge but rather the jagged edge of the blade. but the stria leave the razor looking rough after the aloxite and much more close to the mirror finish after the 3K!

I guess that means the 3K is leaving a better finish than the aloxite but it's a big jump from 3K to the Escher :(

You'll need something to go up to then. A nice 8k would serve you well and probably be all you need.

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Originally Posted by andrewmurray86

Mostly It would appear but I only have 30x magnification available.

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Hi Andrew, wanted to tell you I picked up an 50-500 power USB microscope off ebay for 15.00, they sure help and at the low price, nearly a must have for new honers.

Cheers man, that's a great price

A little lighted 60x loupe on the bay with postage is under 5 and will show more than you need. Have various loupes and small scopes but this is the best mix of easy use and good view