Thread: Pros and cons and methodology

Yes that's right. In fact my norton 4/8 has been kept in water since I bought it back in 2006. I suppose you could use it on the couch if you wanted, but you'll need a steady hand, a towel on your lap, and probably an understanding girlfriend.

James.

Yes, the Norton can be soaked and can be kept wet. The 4k is in much greater need for soaking than the 8k, which is hard enough that it pretty much is a splash and go hone. Yes, you can hone on the couch while the gf watches her shows.

The DMT 8k will not give you a comfortable shave. It just won't. Among different hones, not all 8k hones, or 4k hones, or 1k hones, or 12k hones do the same thing in the same manner. This is especially the case for the DMT 8k.

I forgot to address the slurry question. Slurry is grit off of the hone that is suspended in water on the surface of the hone. This slurry can increase the speed of the cutting action of the hone being used.

If you want to do restoration honing, then you might want a series of hones. This normally would involve 1k hone for bevel setting, one or two hones for refining the edge after the bevel set, and then a polishing hone to make the shave more comfortable.

Examples of series would be...
the Norton 1k, 4, 8k.
The Naniwa Specialty 1k, 2k, 5k, 8k, and 12k.
The Naniwa Specialty 1k, 3k, 8k, and 12k.
Either of the above two with just the Naniwa Pro 1k replacing the Specialty 1k.
A comparable progression of Shapton Pro or GlassStone hones.

Meh, messy. What about DMT 8k? Do they need lapping, soaking etc?

Oh, i can deal with spash. Soaking/honing tub is a bit much.
How about Naniwa vs Norton?
Glass vs the above?

Norton progression, TV tray with a baking pan and a spray bottle. Pull the norton from it's water trough, throw it on the pan, and hone away. Squirt as necessary, no slurry needed. They're only as messy as you make em.

The DMT is a no go for razors. Too aggressive, won't be comfortable. Per Utopian above. You'd likely be right back to lapping films and other things trying to get the edge softened back up so you can actually shave with the razor.

I've looked and your options for Synthetics are essentially Nortons, Naniwas, or Shaptons. The only time any diamond hone is really used is maybe* a 600 or 1K to hog out steel on a badly damaged bevel.

Buy 4 glass 3X12 tiles from Lowe’s $20 and you’re done.

Or Norton, Naniwa, Shapton or King 1,4,8 or there about, set or combo stones, brand does not matter. Paste a strop with razor quality Chrome Oxide.

None will be an improvement over what you have now. Easier? Eh…

As far as I am aware the DMT 8K is a diamond plate, so no it doesn't need lapping or soaking. A bit of water for lubrication is all you'd need there.

However, I am not sure that's the solution to your problem. A honing progression is not all that messy. You could get away with 3 stones:

1. A low-grit 1K synthetic like a chosera;
2. The Norton 4/8K combo stone;
3. A finisher, for example the Shapton 16K ceramic on glass.

James.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Buy 4 glass 3X12 tiles from Lowe’s $20 and you’re done.

Or Norton, Naniwa, Shapton or King 1,4,8 or there about, set or combo stones, brand does not matter. Paste a strop with razor quality Chrome Oxide.

None will be an improvement over what you have now. Easier? Eh…

Thank you, I forgot about King hones.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Buy 4 glass 3X12 tiles from Lowe’s $20 and you’re done.

Or Norton, Naniwa, Shapton or King 1,4,8 or there about, set or combo stones, brand does not matter. Paste a strop with razor quality Chrome Oxide.

None will be an improvement over what you have now. Easier? Eh…

Do ya have to lap the tiles? My adventure in cutting window glass was a bust. [emoji20]
Looking at SRD, Norton combo 4k/8k, is the best value. Lapping film finish for now, play with paste.
I see SRD has "slurry stone". What's that all about?

One more thought, completely sacreligious, if one were to hone say a block plane blade or a wood chisel. Could you just lap in a bathtub and be good for razors again?