Thread: Newb Hone set up advice please...

Hello chaps,

I am in the process of purchasing some hones and have the Naniwa 3K/10K combo firmly in mind, but am wondering about what to fit either side?

A price consideration would be the King 1K/6K combo, but I'm leaning towards the Naniwa 1K and 8K, which runs out a bit more expensive. I guess I won't be buying many more stones in my straight life, so any advice and input is appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

I would suggest the 1k, 5k and 8k if you are going to be going from start to finish on a budget. You'll need a lapping plate as well. A diamond plate in the 325 range being the usual though you can get along with sandpaper if you don't want the added expense. Later on you can add a naniwa 12k and you'll have the fine finisher too though you'll get a DFS with the 8k if you stick with that. Just IMHO.

id suggest the 3/8 combo then the 1 and 12k should fit on either end

What Jimmy said!

Mmm, interesting and not want what I wanted to hear as I really had my sights set on providing the 10k as a finisher (not in the truest sense of course). That'll teach me to ask for experienced advice, he he.

I guess that the suggested 1,5,8K does make sense in terms of a decent progression.

The trouble is, reading through this fine forum, there is much reference to 'finishers' and ending at 8k, i might be left psycholoically dangling. I do have a crox pasted balsa strop to follow on to the 8K though. As you say though jimmyhad, the 12K could be a later addition.

Re the 3/8K combo janivar, I can't find them in the UK

Decisions, decisions...

If you're in the UK, check Steve Dempsters site The Invisible Edge. He sells the full line of Naniwa stones at a great price and you'll be able to pick and mix then as they are not combi stones.

In honesty, you should be able to get a close shave right off the 8k. For years the Norton 4/8 combo was the go to stone for razor honing. Some guys had naturals that were higher grit than the 8k Norton, but a lot of guys used just that one stone.

I've been down as low as 3k and still been able to get a decent shave from a razor, albeit not as smooth as coming off a J-Nat or something! But the razor shaved and it didnt tear my face apart.

You can use your CroX strop after the 8k if you want to add a further level of refinement, but you dont HAVE to have a hone finer than 8k to get a good edge.

I'd get the 1/5/8k hones now and then add the 12k later on if you feel you need it.

Originally Posted by cj121

...
I am in the process of purchasing some hones and have the Naniwa 3K/10K combo firmly in mind, but am wondering about what to fit either side?
...

Either side of 3k/10k?

DMT D6E (~1k).

For finer than 10k:
Naniwa 12k
quality barber hone
Shapton 16k
Dovo black paste (~1 micron)
0.5 micron Chrome Oxide
0.3 micron Chrome Oxide
diamond sprays

or all of the above.

I'm still new to honing but the the King 1/6k combo seems to work well for me. I've also been looking at that 3/10K combo myself thinking that it would provide a nice progression; 1,3,6,10 at a good price

Mixing hones from different brands or series is usually not recomended sinse they can work werry different from each other (if you want to learn to use naniwas, then buy naniwas)
Lots of people here mix different hones during sharpening but most of them learned using one system first

In my opinion, the 1k side of the king 1k/6k cuts too slowly. makes it feel like a 2k stone.

might make more sense to grab a norton 220/1000, they are cheap and will provide you better results for bevel setting.