Thread: Opening Pandora's Box

Hi everyone
I have a low quality blade I would like to learn to sharpen with. I'm taking it slow & easy for now & just want to learn to maintain a already set bevel. BTW, I have a Wade & Butcher professionally honed so I know how a properly honed blade should feel. I've narrowed my choices down to:
Norton 4k or a Belgium Blue Whetstone. I considered the Norton 4/8 but my funds are a little lacking for now. After reading the wikis & what not, I know honing is a very broad, complex issue with many differing opinions.
Thoughts, comments?

Define "Low Quality Blade"? What brand is it?

I would not shave directly off a 4k, but that is just me...

I will leave it to the haddicts to suggest hones

The Norton 4k/8k is the most versatile thing out there, just about everything else is severely limited in comparison. Unless you stumble into a bbw/coti combo at a very reasonable price.

Save up for the norton, its worth it, it does it all.

For suggestion of hones on such a limited budget we (they) need a price range...
Belgian Blue can be used as a finisher/Norton 4k can not

But i would rather go for a bit smaller more versatile hone if i knew the budget

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Define "Low Quality Blade"? What brand is it?

I would not shave directly off a 4k, but that is just me...

I will leave it to the haddicts to suggest hones

It's a Gold Dollar 84. It's in good shape, just a little dull.

Originally Posted by janivar123

For suggestion of hones on such a limited budget we (they) need a price range...
Belgian Blue can be used as a finisher/Norton 4k can not

But i would rather go for a bit smaller more versatile hone if i knew the budget

Well, the 4/8s I've found are $70-80. I'm looking at $50-$60 not much of a difference I know. Oh, I also have some balsa with crox & iron ox if that makes a difference.

125x30 Coticule standard grade should fit
I would like the 150 lenght but anything over 100 works

I never owned a Gold Dollar but IIRC quite a few of them have some warpage of the blade making them less suitable for honing practice IMO.

Originally Posted by Kees

I never owned a Gold Dollar but IIRC quite a few of them have some warpage of the blade making them less suitable for honing practice IMO.

As far as my untrained eye can tell it's straight, but I don't have the experience to say other wise. Maybe I'll pick up a different model.