Thread: Hone indecision.

I know this has been asked before, and I've even asked a similar question before myself. The difference is that I'm actually to the point where I'm ready to invest in some hones, and have a couple of razors that are in need of proper honing including the Frederick Reynolds I just restored.

I'm more comfortable with man made hones because I have more experience with them. Also, cost is a major concern.

So, I've narrowed it down to either buying the norton 220/1k + 4k/8k + SiC flattening stone setup from amazon for $114, or buying the 1k,4k, and 8k shapton glass before the excellent sale from jendeindustries runs out. (roughly the same price)

The 220 is of no concern because I have a 200/300/400/600 DMT type sharpening set for grinding out chips.

Whichever way I go, I "may" be able to swing a shapton 16k or some other finishing stone, and I can always add one a little later; and I can probably get by with just my barber hone for finishing if I need to.



The big problem is that I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger. I look at the options, and I just can't find that one compelling reason to take the norton over the shapton, or the shapton over the norton.



If my honing experience is useful, I've honed and/or sharpened just about everything except razors. Pocket knives, kitchen knifes, scissors, wool shears, saw blades, chain saws, axes, you name it. I've also used my DMT type set to grind chips out of ebay trash blades with good results, and even used them on my Frederick Reynolds to even out a bevel and spine that were VERY uneven from years of improper honing.

Also, I know that you can lap without the DGLP, but for the time being, my only lapping option would be wet dry sandpaper. I just can't afford the DGLP any time soon, and my DMT type set is too small (about 3"x6"). If sandpaper won't get the job done, at least in the short term, I guess that will be the big deciding factor.



Any advice is welcome

If space and time are a factor I would go Shapton glass stone, thin and only need sprayed. They cut fast and aggressivly, so that can be as much a minus as an add. Norton are easy to lap but need soaked for 20 minutes. Not as aggressive a cutter so you have a bit of room before over honing. As the norton is softer also a slip up is less damaging to the edge as the glass stones. Slips on the glass stone removes alot more material and can set you back a bit.

So depending on you skills and confidence in honing I would say, new to the game go for the Nortons, more experienced/confedent Glass Stones.

I know razors are a different animal than the other edges I've honed, but I've spent enough time honing enough different things that I feel pretty confident in my ability not to slip.

The space thing was something I hadn't considered, but probably should have. I live in a 421 sqr ft studio, so space is ALWAYS a major concern. Between that, and the really amazingly friendly pre-purchase customer service I've been getting from jendeindustries, I'm leaning heavily in that direction.

Still, other opinions are VERY welcome.

Originally Posted by VeeDubb65

So, I've narrowed it down to either buying the norton 220/1k + 4k/8k + SiC flattening stone setup from amazon for $114, or buying the 1k,4k, and 8k shapton glass before the excellent sale from jendeindustries runs out. (roughly the same price)

The 220 is of no concern because I have a 200/300/400/600 DMT type sharpening set for grinding out chips.



Also, I know that you can lap without the DGLP, but for the time being, my only lapping option would be wet dry sandpaper. I just can't afford the DGLP any time soon, and my DMT type set is too small (about 3"x6"). If sandpaper won't get the job done, at least in the short term, I guess that will be the big deciding factor.



Any advice is welcome

I have the Norton 4/8K and the Shapton GS16K and GS 500, I did my initial lapping of those stones on wet/dry before getting myself a diamond plate to lap them on, my main concern with the Shaptons was the "need" for the GDLP, which led me to posting this question about lapping options for the GS series.

The biggest advantage the GS has over the Norton is that you don't need to soak the GS stones, they don't dish as easily as the Norton thus less laping is needed.

The Shaptons feels a little harder than the Norton IMO and it's something I prefer, so I might take advantage of the Jende sales and get me some more Shaptons.

I had started with the Norton's and was perfectly satisfied until I did the first few strokes on the Shapton Glass. I knew immediately that I had found the Holy Grail. The Norton's, Chinese 12K, and the Spyderco's went up for sale. I have obtained a few different hones since and still lookout for others but the SGS are my no nonsense, quick, no soaking, consistent, mainstay sharpening stones. You did say they were on sale.

You will need a lapper [at least a DMT 8C] and a stone holder [Craftsman Studio has a cheap but good one].

bj [on sale] miller

Above great advises.
i would say this only if you do really think money and space is an issue.
i used quite a long time for 6-7 months slips stones.
they were 4/8k norton then i like them and bought a lot cheaper next set it was japan made 1/4/8k slip stones. their size is small and i used glue to join them together. 1 opposite to other. Basically this was cheap i think under 20$ and i had for myself 4/8k combo . lastly i still use for lapping my dmt 6x2 plate for every single hone i use.
they are 150/600 dmt plates and costs 9$ from bay.
Just idea you may like or don't like it . gl.

Sorry but to me this is just econimics,,

The Norton set up for $120 is probably the best buy out there... add the 16k as a finisher and you are ready to hone....


BUT and that is a big but, if you can afford the Shaptons to start with then by all means get them... The feed back from the Shapton GS is probably the best I have used, they pretty much tell you "Hey idiot change stones now"...

Between the sets you have presented get the Shaptons if they are in the budget, not only for the reasons I stated but also all the others above...

The other set that I just started using recently is the Naniwa SS also worth a look...

All I'm going to say is...

If you get the nortons and start reading more honing threads. All of a sudden you will say to yourself, "Why didnt i just spend an extra $$$ and get the shapton/naniwa." Then you will start selling your nortons and buying new stones.

/Not knocking nortons.

I don't have the glass stones but I do have the professionals 1k,2k, 5k,8k, 15k and I have Nortons 1k, 4k, and 8k. I find that I like to set bevels with the 1 and the 2k Shaptons and then go to the 4/8 Norton. Sometimes the 15k shapton pro and other times something else but I prefer the Norton 4/8 to the Shapton pro 5/8.

In the low grits I like the speed and feedback of the shapton compared to the 1k Norton. Any of them will get you where you want to go. It is just a question of what your personal preferences are. Unfortunately you won't know until you try. OTOH, you can't go wrong whichever you choose.