hone advice needed

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06-13-2008, 02:22 PM
goat kiss

hone advice needed

Hello all,I could use some advice to figure out what I should do. I have a nice 12K Chinese hone from Woodcraft. I chose it as the best one of four available. However, I'm considering returning it and here's why.
It takes forever to polish an edge, it's very hard. Woodcraft also sells a Japanese combi water stone, 1200-8000 for $50. So I could keep the Chinese 12K and also buy the Japanese stone or I could return the 12K and buy a 4K/8K Norton. I can only afford another $50 but I'll get $30 back for the Chinese stone. The question is, what will serve me best? One 4K/8K Norton or a Japanese 1200/8000 plus the 12K??? Both choices cost $80.
GK
06-13-2008, 02:43 PM
OLD_SCHOOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by goat kiss

Hello all,I could use some advice to figure out what I should do. I have a nice 12K Chinese hone from Woodcraft. I chose it as the best one of four available. However, I'm considering returning it and here's why.
It takes forever to polish an edge, it's very hard. Woodcraft also sells a Japanese combi water stone, 1200-8000 for $50. So I could keep the Chinese 12K and also buy the Japanese stone or I could return the 12K and buy a 4K/8K Norton. I can only afford another $50 but I'll get $30 back for the Chinese stone. The question is, what will serve me best? One 4K/8K Norton or a Japanese 1200/8000 plus the 12K??? Both choices cost $80.
GK

You will probably be best to go for the Norton 4/8k because you will only use the 1200 for setiing bevels and removing chips from an ebite special, then you need an in-between-er (4k) before attemping to use the 8k otherwise it will still take you forever and a day.

Others will be along with input shortly.
06-13-2008, 02:48 PM
gssixgun

Decisions, decisions, Your best situation is the 4k/8k with the 12k as a polisher that would be the ideal setup.... Most people that hone razors, actually hone them, not just touch them up, would agree that the 4k range is the sharpener, so ya need one of those....
Going 1200-8k-12k would work but it will take way more time on the 8k, then I have to spend....
If I could only have 1 stone it would be the 4k/8k Norton that my 2 cents worth....
Good Honing!!!
06-13-2008, 03:15 PM
hoglahoo

I have a 1k/8k and it stinks to go from one to the other without an intermediate grit. Takes forever
06-13-2008, 03:55 PM
Russel Baldridge

</TITLE><html> <head> <title>The Perfect Edge

The 4x2 or the 6 x1.5 coticules would be cost effective and very usable options, as would the bouts.

The coticule will handle a good deal of sharpening as well as honing/polishing duties. It's all you really need, as long as you don't need to remove chips. You could return the 12k and go with just the Coticule, or keep it, or just wait 'til you can afford to get the 4k/8k and keep the 12k. The choice is yours, but I have never liked the norton 8k as a finishing stone, so I'd recommend finishing with the coticule or 12k.
06-13-2008, 05:26 PM
goat kiss

Thanks, guys

Just after I posted my question the decision sorta made itself. I went for a walk and came across a bricklayer
with a brick saw. I asked if he would cut 3/8" off a stone for me. He said no problem so I went home and got the stone. It cut beautifully so now I have a rubbing stone for the 12K that I know is exactly the same grit. Naturally I cannot return it now but I think I came out better off as I could never buy what I've now got for $30. These Chinese stones seem to be of a very consistent grit, no inclusions. I was concerned that the edges might flake under the saw blade but it cut smooth as silk. I'm tempted to buy a dozen, rent a saw, split them and resell 'em. Become a stone magnate.
GK
06-14-2008, 05:48 AM
xman

Well I don't undersatand how that helps you, but I'd keep the 12k for touch ups and final polishing and get a Norton 4k/8k as the workhorse.

X
06-14-2008, 12:22 PM
netsurfr

Among the choices that you have mentioned, I would get the 4/8K Norton as you base stone and use the 12K Chinese to polish your edge. Good luck.
06-14-2008, 06:36 PM
tjiscooler

Im not sure having a slurry stone would help a lot. Its such a low grit that even with a heavy slurry it might not be fast enough...BUT i don't have a 12k and have no idea what im talking about so try it out and let us know how it goes.
06-14-2008, 10:50 PM
kelbro

Quote:

Originally Posted by netsurfr

Among the choices that you have mentioned, I would get the 4/8K Norton as you base stone and use the 12K Chinese to polish your edge. Good luck.

That combo works well for me.
06-15-2008, 10:25 PM
Howard

I would return the Chinese stone and buy a coticule, either a bout (irregular shape) at $65 or a 6x2 at $78. You'll see a world of difference. It will wring out the last bit of performance from your blade and give you a better result than the Norton. I get a fair amount of correspondence about that Chinese stone and some like and some don't depending pretty much on experience with other stones. Personally, I don't like it and feel it's misgraded at 12k.