Thread: Newb needs suggestions on purchase

Trying to decided what to buy.
Im looking at this kit for $120 http://www.ptreeusa.com/norton_waterstone.htm
It comes with the 220 / 1000 waterstone, the 4000 / 8000 waterstone and the flattening stone.
Or I was thinking of buying the Norton 4/8k and a D8C from theperfectedge.com for the same price.

What would you do if you were just starting?

IMHO you may want to consider buying something on the B/S/T section of this forum from a known seller. You would be getting something from someone who has been in the same situation as you and someone who will likely be giving you value for money. Regardless of what you get and where you get it you should be sure it is properly honed by one of the honemeisters on this forum that is local to you. Doing this will save you money- which can be better spent on soaps/brushes/scuttles/strops/mugs etc....

And read as much as possible to soak in as much as you can

And remember, your shaving experiences will get better with practice- dont expect a wonderful experience first time

Above all, WELCOME to SRP, its good to see you got here. Finding this place is the hardest part. Finally you'll find shaving to be enjoyable!


Sandy

Well I got a new Dovo and its prolly at Lynns house right now.

Thing is I wanted to learn how to hone myself so I ordered two cheap and old(But look like they are in good condition) blades from ebay.

I have bought 3 brushes, a 5$ one from the riteaid, an omega and a custom one from Dan Capshaw.
Got a Mug, bowl and scuttle which is coming from georgetown pottery.

Already have my TM strop.

Im just trying to figure out what would be better to start honing with.

The norton set, or a 4/8k norton with a diamond hone.

K, maybe here is a better question.

If you had nothing else, and you had to choose between a 220/1000 noton and flattening stone or just a D8C.
What would you want/find more useful?

Originally Posted by EricSS

Trying to decided what to buy.
Im looking at this kit for $120 http://www.ptreeusa.com/norton_waterstone.htm
It comes with the 220 / 1000 waterstone, the 4000 / 8000 waterstone and the flattening stone.
Or I was thinking of buying the Norton 4/8k and a D8C from theperfectedge.com for the same price.

What would you do if you were just starting?

Starting out agian, I would get just the Norton 4/8K and some wet/dry paper to lapp it with since it's the stone which has the most tutorials on it an the pyramid method is a pretty easy route to getting a shave ready edge, and understand the level of sharpness required to get a good shave. After getting my honing to that level I'd go searching for a finishing stone to get a better edge, and maybe pick up a D8E(?) the 1200 grit for bevel work.

Originally Posted by bjorn

Starting out agian, I would get just the Norton 4/8K and some wet/dry paper to lapp it with since it's the stone which has the most tutorials on it an the pyramid method is a pretty easy route to getting a shave ready edge, and understand the level of sharpness required to get a good shave. After getting my honing to that level I'd go searching for a finishing stone to get a better edge, and maybe pick up a D8E(?) the 1200 grit for bevel work.

Ya know what, thats a great idea. I didnt think about going the sandpaper route to flatten the stone.
I prolly just get the 4/8k for now then. Use some pastes to try to finish the edge. Then a bit down the road Ill grab a nice finishing stone.
I really have no need for the faster and lower grit stones yet. Might as well just buy what I need to get my basic honing practice in.
Ive already spent so much money on this and havent even shaved yet =P

Thanks for your response, totally changed what I had set in my mind.

Originally Posted by EricSS

Ya know what, thats a great idea. I didnt think about going the sandpaper route to flatten the stone.
I prolly just get the 4/8k for now then. Use some pastes to try to finish the edge. Then a bit down the road Ill grab a nice finishing stone.
I really have no need for the faster and lower grit stones yet. Might as well just buy what I need to get my basic honing practice in.
Ive already spent so much money on this and havent even shaved yet =P

Thanks for your response, totally changed what I had set in my mind.

And heres a nice tutorial on lapping, just in case you need it.

When your honing gets up to speed, there are a lot of nice finishers out there, but I guess you'll be able to get a good edge of the Norton and pastes.


Have fun!

I'm only just out of your shoes, and if I were starting over I'd get:

DMT D8E (1200 grit) $35 at Crafstman Studios. I'm pretty sure it's the D8E. I'm wishing I had one of these now that I have an ebay razor to fix up.

DMT D8EE (8000 grit) $63 at Craftsman Studios. I have this, and it is very, very nice. It's my only hone, and I had to set the bevel on my DOVO with it. It took a little time, but it took care of business.

Wildtim's flatbed strop/glass bed hone kit $20. (thread is here) Just came today, and with some CrO powder from ChrisL, I'm looking forward to some nice polishing on the edge from the D8EE, (which I've been shaving with for 2 weeks now and have no complaints).

Just my $.02 about what I have and what I wish I had...

Well Eric, as long as everyone else is chiming in, I guess I'll throw my 2¢ in !

Being new at this, it's natural to jump in "with both feet" (which is what I did).

What do I have ?.....

DOVO Premium hanging strop (linen/leather).....my "daily" strop).
Norton combo waterstone (220/1000).
Norton waterstone (4000).
Norton waterstone (8000).
Belgian yellow coticule.
Kitayama (12,000).
$200 worth of vintage ceramic barber-hones from Tilly (Redtrader).
14" x 14" piece of plate glass (to lap my stones with #400 paper).
Thiers-Issard premium "two-sided" paddle strop.
.....and it goes on and on and on..............

My point is this: Don't worry so much about "goodies", as you do "TECHNIQUE" ! ! !

(I think a good "hone-meister" could sharpen a razor on a piece of wet/dry
emerycloth) !

We're all in this together (for better or worse). I'm trying hard to get to
the point where I can get my razor to shave like a million-dollars (and it might well take a while to get there), I know it can be done.....I just need to learn HOW !

Marko.....

While lapping on paper is possible, and I used to do it like that, I first bought a norton flattening sone, and then a D8C later on.

With paper I always had a surface that felt loaded and icky.
The norton was a huge leap forward in stone surface quality. The problem with the norton is that you should only use it on nortons, and it wears away.
The D8C is finer, stays flat, usable on other stones as well, and If you have to take out a huge chip, you can use it for that as well.