Thread: Beginner Questions

For razor honing I don't know if it matters that much, touhh I admit the 4K side wears down enough that the surface needs to be refreshed after each razor imo. Still, the 4k/8k is a good stone, and good value for money (don't have shaptons to compare)

But for chisels etc I agree.
I recently honed a heavy axe with a norton 220 grit stone, and the damn thing was dished so bad afterwards that the middle was thinner than the long ends by more than 1/8".

When I have some additional money, I can see myself buying a DMT XX and X plate for doing the grunt work on axes, cleavers and chopping knives for outdoors.

Originally Posted by Bruno

For razor honing I don't know if it matters that much, touhh I admit the 4K side wears down enough that the surface needs to be refreshed after each razor imo. Still, the 4k/8k is a good stone, and good value for money (don't have shaptons to compare)

But for chisels etc I agree.
I recently honed a heavy axe with a norton 220 grit stone, and the damn thing was dished so bad afterwards that the middle was thinner than the long ends by more than 1/8".

When I have some additional money, I can see myself buying a DMT XX and X plate for doing the grunt work on axes, cleavers and chopping knives for outdoors.

Hmm I was not aware of the difference between the X and the XX stones. One thing is that they do not seem to be available in the same line of stones.

Originally Posted by Bruno

For razor honing I don't know if it matters that much, touhh I admit the 4K side wears down enough that the surface needs to be refreshed after each razor imo. Still, the 4k/8k is a good stone, and good value for money (don't have shaptons to compare)

But for chisels etc I agree.
I recently honed a heavy axe with a norton 220 grit stone, and the damn thing was dished so bad afterwards that the middle was thinner than the long ends by more than 1/8".

This is why I use oil stones for my rough tools, and only let the waterstones touch my fine tools.

As far as razors go there are a ton of different options for getting them sharp and even more for keeping them that way. Right now you don't want to sweat it to much as there is quite a bit of learning to do with the tools you have. As you get more experienced you might find that you have preference for stones, or a desire to spend you money on something else.

For me I hone very cheaply, and if given a hundred bucks I am more likely to blow it on a new razor and some shave soap than to get any nice expensive hone with it. Thats my preference, other guys might own only one cheap razor yet have a thousand bucks worth of hones to keep the edge perfect, thats their preference.

Just keep reading you'l come up with different opinions and things you want to try.

Wow! Looks like a lot of people on here are in the hone business. I have one, a 16k Shapton. Keeps it sharp just fine.

I'm a beginner too, I have the Norton's 4/8k 1k/220 and a good strop. What do you think would be good finishing stone.
I've had trouble finding a Chinese 12k or Coticule, which by the way is also 8k, just a better one from what I understand.

Originally Posted by zib

I'm a beginner too, I have the Norton's 4/8k 1k/220 and a good strop. What do you think would be good finishing stone.
I've had trouble finding a Chinese 12k or Coticule, which by the way is also 8k, just a better one from what I understand.

My vote is for a yellow coticule from Howard at the perfect edge.