Thread: Can a 6000 fit?

Ok, I am nearing the end of my hone quest. I have found an #8000 at a good price, and a finishing stone at a GREAT price. #1000 hones are a dime a dozen, if I ever end up needing one.

For the life of me, I can't find a #4000 hone at a reasonable price. For one reason or another, they always end up being more expensive than any other stone I can find--it appears they are less common for honing in Japan.

However, I can find 6000 stones all over the place. Can I sort of slide this in instead of a 4000 when it comes time to build up an edge, perhaps using slurry to speed the cutting time? I'm looking at it because it is readily available at my local home center, and is very reasonably priced...is the necessity for the 4000 in the bevel establishment/polishing progression totally unavoidable?

As always, thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

Jim

I was reading a brochure that came with my Nortons this morning oddly enough. Here is a link to a PDF with the same text. The 4000 really works well. Shapton pros go from 3 to 5 and Chosera also has the 5 and no 4. I am sure you could get by with a 6 but I imagine you would spend a lot more time on it.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I couldn't find one either which is why I settled for 5k. It could have something to do with the Japanese superstition of the numbers 4 and 9, coz hones are available in almost 1000 grit increments here. Except of course 4k and 9k.

The Shapton GlassStones come in a 4 but that may only be for the export market. I did not know about that superstition. We homo sapiens are interesting creatures.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

They do? Well there goes that theory.

Japanese have a superstition about 4 being to do with death and 9 to do with suffering, it's really fascinating stuff. Hospitals do not have a 4th or 9th floor, some hotels don't either.

Here in the USA it is the dreaded #13, black cats crossing your path, walking under ladders, and opening an umbrella indoors ...... among others.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Japanese have a superstition about 4 being to do with death and 9 to do with suffering, it's really fascinating stuff.

So what if you're born on the 4rd day of the 9th month? Is that considered the equivalent of 666?

I would certainly use a 5k or 6k if I wanted a 4k and couldn't find one. It should be faster than skipping the "4k stage" entirely. With that said, I don't use a 4k myself at all.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

So what if you're born on the 4rd day of the 9th month? Is that considered the equivalent of 666?

You know, I've never heard exactly, but it could very well equal VERY bad luck. Japanese take dates and number and such VERY seriously--certina ages are considered bad luck, so you shouldn't do anything serious when you are a certain age. I think one is 35 for women, I know 42 is a bad year for men...there are others that I can't recall right now.

Back on topic--well, if you had the same problem, O_S, I guess I'll go with a 5000. Thanks!

**EDIT** Actually, let me ask this--in between a 1000 and an 8000, which would be a better progression, 3000 or 5000? They're both pretty much the same price, and equally available.

Jim,

why don't you have someone send you a Glass shapton 4K. I own each and every Glass shapton and besides the 16K being one of Shaptons best I consider the 4K with the exact same wow factor. I have no experience with the non glass shaptons. Personally if I could only keep 3 shaptons it would be the 16, 4 and 8K. But that's just me but every time I use and finish on the shapton 4K I'm amazed at the mirror shine edge and performance. I sometimes wonder if they mis labeled my stone as it's practically scratch free. These are just my findings. Others might disagree and have their own take on it. So take it for what it's worth.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

Jim,

why don't you have someone send you a Glass shapton 4K. I own each and every Glass shapton and besides the 16K being one of Shaptons best I consider the 4K with the exact same wow factor. I have no experience with the non glass shaptons. Personally if I could only keep 3 shaptons it would be the 16, 4 and 8K. But that's just me but every time I use and finish on the shapton 4K I'm amazed at the mirror shine edge and performance. I sometimes wonder if they mis labeled my stone as it's practically scratch free. These are just my findings. Others might disagree and have their own take on it. So take it for what it's worth.

Thanks for yoru advice, Maximilian. The glass shapton would be great, but it would end up costing more than I am ready pay, I fear. Unless, of course, someone would be willing to let me "try" one for a while? Say, two or three years?

Perhaps someday, if I get a large collection and have a lot of razors to hone, I could justify the expense for the glass shaptons; they are cetainly attractive. But not right now--I'm afraid my wife might have some hard words...

The 6K might work and function faster if it is used with slurry. Just be sure to use it without slurry afterward. If your trying to restore an old vintage razors edge then use 1000 grit sandpaper first. That will get rid of any old oxidized steel and nicks in the edge.

Hope this helps,