Thread: Need some advice

Be sure to get the bevel set on the 4k side(ability to pop hairs with the blade slightly raised up from the arm) before moving to the 8k, refine the edge with the 8k and then go to a pasted paddle (CrO). A piece of balsa will do for a paddle, so there is no great expense there, you just have to find a source of ChromeOx, maybe there is some in the classifieds. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Agreeing with what has been suggested, reading this thread got me to thinking of what I learned when the Norton was the main workhorse around here. Before all of the newer contenders for best stone.

I agree Jimmy, and I think you have pointed out in a round-about way what I've been thinking/posting about lately. Though I might have "officially" joined last October I had been reading (or lurking) SRP for at least 6 months before that and I have seen opinions shift dramatically. I have noticed that some stones come and some stones go, though I am cautious not to call this a trend or fad. Six months ago or more this might have been a coticule thread, but coticules seem to be a bit faux-pas lately.

At the end of the day a competent honer can achieve a shave-ready edge from a Norton, just as you can get a good shave from a yellow coticule. It boils down to a wants vs needs issue. Can you get a better edge with other stones? If that's what you're chasing, then yes. I just get a kick from seeing which stone will dethrone the former king every now and then