do I need a 12k ?

hey guys,

I have norton 220/1000 and a 4000/8000. Do I really need to go higher or can I get away with a 8k and then finish on a chromium oxide strop? I can't even seem to find a site that sells a chinese 12k.

thanks
Ed

Buy Natural Polishing Water Stone, Water Stones, Sharpening - Woodcraft.com

I picked it up locally.

THE HADs say yes the others can shave off an 8 and CRO2.

You don't need it, you can get along just fine with what you have. Would it be nice? Well that's a different story. :D If you're already getting a good edge on the 8k, then the chinese stone should put a smoother edge on it, then you could use the chromium oxide if you see fit. The 8k is a fine enough polisher to shave well with, but it's always nice to have higher grit ones to play around with. I don't have a chinese, but I've heard good things and from the price I say it's certainly worth a shot.

Check out this thread from just the other day about the same thing....

http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...tml#post357440

12k's are such good value there's little reason not to! I like mine. It's also about four times the size of my Thuringians for the same money. (They were a bit of a steal)

Oh reason not the need ! Our basest beggers are in the poorest things superfluous.

King Lear

IOW, get one. :rock:

You can do well with a Norton 4k followed by an 8k followed by a stropping on a natural leather strop. If you want to go further, the cheapest way is a Shapton 16k. It's quite possible the chromium oxide is degrading the edge off of the stone. I have discontinued using it.

Another cheaper way would be the Naniwa 12K super stone that I got fom SRD. I've been using it now as my finishing hone on several razors, followed by a just few light swipes of cro-ox or diamond spray and bingo every time. I'm impressed and it's a joy to use. My Shapton 16K hasn't been used for a while now and neither are my fancy Jap. naturals and Eschers. Not saying they are obsolete. Some razors need a different approach and hone.
The only time I noticed a degrading off the edge when using cro-ox was when the paddle or strop had to much co-ox applied and or to many strokes were done. Less is better.