Thread: Progression on honing

My progression is fairly simple:

DMT 1200
Norton 4000
Norton 8000
Coticule w/water
Y/G Escher

I have a DMT 325 and 600 if I really needed anything coarser than the 1200, but haven't found the need yet.

I don't always finished on the escher as finishing with the coticule leaves a different feel that I like sometimes. I know doubling the grits is the best method and I've considered getting a hone around 2000 grit. But seeing as I don't hone all that often I don't really find it all that necessary as going from 1200 to 4000 isn't that big of a jump anyways.

Soon my progression will end with a Nakayama Maruichi.

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

My progression is fairly simple:

DMT 1200
Norton 4000
Norton 8000
Coticule w/water
Y/G Escher

I have basically the same progression except I don't have an Escher and it's been a great progression. I just discovered it this week!

I use this about 95% of the time for a vintage or new razor:

• 1200 (9µ)
• 8000 (3µ)
• a barber hone (or Thuringian)
• newspaper

I have some coarser hones for heavier work.

My "new" progression (meaning I've only used it twice)

Norton 1k
Norton 4k
Norton 8k
Chinese 12k

Shem, I only disagree with one thing.... You can not have too many hones !

Assuming the blade needs the bevel set I usually do the DMT 1200 and then go to the Norton 4/8. Sometimes I do the Shapton professional series 1, 2 ,5, 8, 15 and rarely the 30k

I like hitting the 2k following the 1k. I really feel like it gives me a good head start before moving up.

Sometimes I do the 1200 or the shap 1&2 and then go to a bbw/slurry and then the yellow coticule with water. Sometimes Escher light green or yellow or blue green to finish. Depends on the blade and my mood.

If the bevel is good I would skip the bevel setters and might go synthetic or all natural stones. Again depends on what it is and how I feel about it. Intuitive stuff going on.

I only use pastes on blades I just can't seem to get sharp enough with the hones and stropping alone.

I usually use a lot of hones and a small progression as well.
It varies, which ones I use.
Depending on the steel.

I've been using:
1200 dmt, 4k, 8k, 14k spydercos. Grit aproximations

I will be switching/trying 1k, 5k, 8k, 12k/16k, crox.

I have found 1200 dmt ,4k ,8k , bbw slurry then yellow coticule water. for maintance bbw slurry yellow water i now have thuringian i mwill add after coti. great shaves every time.