Thread: It's time to get a hone....

So I've been here a few months now, and I've learned that getting things cheaply is most easily accomplished patiently via "lurking" and getting lucky. I don't want to start honing yet, but I'm starting to shop for hones. Why? Cus if I start looking now odds are I'll find what I need at a price I like 2 months down the road. Also, I like to completely research stuff before I dive in... (And I have a birthday coming up in a month, so I may be able to get one of the stones free).

Here are options I've been considering:
A Norton set
A DMZ set
A spyderco set
New natural stones
Hodge podge (classifieds and ebay)

Now what is the consensus about ease of use/first few years of honing? I don't want something easy to learn on, but I will have to upgrade soon. I'm also not looking for the last set of hones I'll ever buy. I'm looking for a balance of ease of use and something that'll last me till I'm pretty good. How do naturals compare to synthetics? Being the way I am, if they are on par, I'd prefer naturals, just seems more... classic? But if the synths are the easier/far cheaper option I guess I don't have a choice.

And what else will I need... I've heard talk of slurry stones, these are material specific right? I need a BBW slurry stone for a BBW stone, etc right? Will I need a lap right away or is it just better to get them factory lapped and send them out once or twice a year to begin with? And should I get a finishing stone or barber's hone or some other odd ball thing in addition to a hone set?

Finally, if naturals are the way to go, which is better, the belgian stuff or arkansas stuff?

Thanks!

This SRP Wiki tutoriail."Which Hone Do I Need ?" is worth reading. There are many hones out there and many of them have their proponents. I think the Norton 4/8 is a good hone for beginners and more experienced alike. There is a lot of info on them in the forum archives and many members 'know' the Norton in case you need advice. The Shapton GlassStones and the new Naniwa Super Stones are also favored by some. There is by now plenty of stuff to read on coticules and some on Thuringancs and the Chinese 12k. Take you time and read up on them and you will no doubt end up with something you'll be happy with.

First of all, I hope you're ready to be so completely overwhelmed by all the options and varying opinions on the subject of first hones that you'll seriously consider going back to a mach 3.

Seriously though, there is not right or wrong here.

I'll go ahead an toss my recommendation out.

Amazon.com: Norton Waterstone Starter Kit: 220/1000 grit stone, 4000/8000 grit stone, SiC flattening stone: Home Improvement is less than $120 and will give you absolutely everything that you "need" to go from chipped ebay trash blade to shave-ready.

Nortons also have the advantage of being widely used for a long time, even if some of the newer hones are becoming more popular, is that so many people have used them that you will easily find help and instruction in their proper use.

While that set does provide everything you "need" to get shave ready, you will probably "want" a finishing hone of some kind to make the edge more polished and comfortable.

There's a ton of options here, but since you like the idea of natural stones, you could get a small coticule and use it with water only, no slurry. Also, I believe the chinese 12k stone is a natural stone that would make a good finisher. I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong.

I already am overwhelmed. Hence the cry for help. I can't make head or tail in this forum... thanks for your reply. Also can someone say if Belgian is better or Arkansas or is it preference...?

Originally Posted by khaos

I've heard talk of slurry stones, these are material specific right? I need a BBW slurry stone for a BBW stone, etc right?

You can always use a diamond plate for creating slurry. There is some risk of stripping diamonds off the surface if you build up slurry, but you could always buy one of those incredibly cheap plates just for this job.

Will I need a lap right away or is it just better to get them factory lapped and send them out once or twice a year to begin with?

It's easy enough to lap using coarse wet and dry paper. Put it on a flat counter, plate glass or granite tile, and lap away.

And should I get a finishing stone or barber's hone or some other odd ball thing in addition to a hone set?

Yes. Either a Chinese 12K or hold out for a bargain Escher/Thuringian off ebay. Or possibly just Chromium Oxide on a strop/balsa/newspaper!

Originally Posted by khaos

Also can someone say if Belgian is better or Arkansas or is it preference...?

The unhelpful truth is that it's all preference. A belgian is a faster cutter than an ak, and ak is smoother. But that doesn't make one or the other "better."

That's the reason for the above set. Not because it's "better," but because the majority of the honemeisters around here either use them, or have used the at some point, so there's lots of people who can answer questions about them.

Of course, since you could use a thuringian, chinese 12k, coticule, or arkansas as a finishing hone (that's ignoring all the man-made options for finishing hones) and all to the same basic job, that set doesn't help much.

If I were you, I'd simply keep an eye out for a good deal on any of the above finishing hones, and after you use it for a while, and decide you don't like the one you picked, you can post back with why you didn't like it, and somebody can steer you in the right direction. Plus, hones re-sell pretty well in the classifieds.

Approx which grit are the belgian stones? Yellow with slurry=1000, blue=4000, yellow without=finisher?

Originally Posted by khaos

Approx which grit are the belgian stones? Yellow with slurry=1000, blue=4000, yellow without=finisher?

There is a REALLY good chart in the wiki to answer that question.

Hones - comparison table - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Nice thread and about the right time for me too. So it looks like the Norton set that VeeDubb65 mentions will take care of everything that the basic shaver needs right? Mostly just looking for the couple times a year sharpening but if I find someting in a shop I want to give a go at reconditioning I'd like to have the tools to give it a shot too.

+1 on Tom, thats what I'm planning on doing too. Thanks for the help guys!