Quote Originally Posted by rhensley View Post
Everyone wants the minimal kit for honing.
I am not sure that everyone wants the minimal kit for honing. Five stone progressions reaching the 20K + levels seem to be widely advocated here.

Quote Originally Posted by rhensley View Post
The sad truth of the matter is it is a rabbit hole we fall down. I started with the 3/8 naniwa SS. then added the 1Knaniwa SS. Oh what the hell i added the 12K naniwa SS. The a friend showed me the Suehiro 20K. Guess what . you got it I now have a 20K. Now I'm not saying this is bad. Just don't be miss led. There will always be that just one more. BUT IT IS FUN.
One can also crawl out of the rabbit hole. It's the bandwagon effect that tends to push people in, myself included.

I now just use a coticule for most of my honing needs. If heavier restoration is needed, my chosera 1k. If a little extra is needed, some paste.

That's a maximum total of 3 different abrasives.

Granted I have more than one coticule, but that's just for posterity's sake. Zeus forbid that coticules reach the same fanboydom and astronomical prices as Eschers should my sons wish to partake in this hobby in the future.