Honing is the process which takes a dull edge to a sharp edge. It should not take hours to accomplish that and if it does, the wrong stones are being used. If the razor is really dull and you're not getting results from a belgian blue or a norton 4k, drop back to a 1200 like the DMT8E which will quickly re-set the edge. Then move to a 4000 stone, an 8000 stone, and then strop.

I always recommend people experiment with different stones to see what works well with their particular razor. Razors differ and react differently depending on their particular steel type and heat treatment. Steel can vary from lot to lot so that's not a variable that can be eliminated from consideration and heat treating likewise varies in its results.

I have also come to believe that some folks just resonate better with natural stones than they do with artificial stones. Nothing necessarily mystical about that but there is a difference, in general, with the "feel" between man-made stones and natural stones.

Arkansas stones. I have used arkansas stones for about 40 years and my collection is considerable with many sizes and shapes and all grades. I've actually taken the family to Hot Springs, Arkansas to visit the quarries and rock shops (now they won't go anywhere with me unless they research it first . . . ) and talk to the people who make the stones and take the novaculite out of the ground.

I don't like Arkansas stones for straight razor honing. I think they're not optimal for that particular job.

As many of you know, I speak with lots of folks extensively, every week, about honing razors and other blades. This has been going on for about 5 years now. A few of those folks are barbers who have been shaving folks for many years - 52 years in one case! Those folks use coticules because that's what they've always used and they don't want to really change because they know that's what works for them. Does that mean other stones won't work? No. They will, but you have to experiment and learn what they do by using observation and magnification and shaving with the razors.