Thread: Less is more

I'll bite, just because mine also uses one of Sham's mystery stones.

Naniwa 1k
unknown blue 3k
vintage combo coti

That's all I really need, but I'll throw on a microbevel with my Shapton 30k about 25% of the time. My brother gave it to me, so I have to use it, right?

Originally Posted by northpaw

My brother gave it to me, so I have to use it, right?

Just throw it in the drawer and tell him "it's all good!".

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Just throw it in the drawer and tell him "it's all good!".

More like "gently place it in the drawer while holding my breath", haha. I baby the hell out of that thing.

An excellent and timely thread IMO

I totally agree - less can be more, for sure. I also think that you should learn to use every stone you have to its full potential before considering whether you need more. But of course HAD can kill that idea.

So in that spirit I am not posting what I have or what I think would be a good set, lest it temp the Devil's HADvocate in people. But I will say that I have essentially four 4-hone setups to deal with various scenarios (and of course combinations of the 4), most, but not all, of which involve the Norton 4/8.

James.

I agree. on the other hand, I think for those who have the time and money to play around with different stones its a great thing and can produce some of the best edges out there. I have just begun my venture into honing. I currently have a 4k/8k combo and can get a good edge to shave with. But I think I am going to get a 12 k for finishing. I dont think its overboard by any means. just right for me

In general for most typical razors the Norton 1K for the bevel then on to the Norton 4K then the Norton 8K and either the Escher or Coticule to finish with.

The longer I'm in this hobby, the more I lean towards less is more. Searching for "Edgevana" is over.

Chosera 1k
Norton 4/8
Escher or Coticule

When the mood strikes me, I may do 10 lapps on SRD's Wool Felt with .50 diamond spray


Good thread Kelly...

Ok; for my *really* essential honing kit? My well broken-in Eze-Lap model M. It can (and has) taken a razor from butter-knife dull to daily shaver. Mine sits in a kitchen drawer next to a wooden knife tray, where it serves it's main purpose sharpening - well - every knife in the house. However when using it for razors my (untreated) canvas strop becomes essential (to me, anyhow) to a producing a comfortable shave, so the canvas actually becomes the "finishing hone" in that context.

I prefer the 4/8K alone. If a 220 or 1K is easily available I'll use them if need be. But, the 4K is generally more than enough to get the work done, if you take the time to discern exactly what work needs to be done. The only time I use a 1K is when I've given up. After giving up, so to say, I will hone down the razor (including the spine) and set a new bevel. It is always my last resort. Generally I find though that careful attention to the razors geometry is better than "an attack of the hones". When I look at a razor I usually realize that there already is a bevel. I don't really need to "put on a new bevel". That little triangular shaped section along the tip. That's the bevel! What I really need to do isn't to "put on a new bevel", it's really to get the hone onto the bevel. This is an entirely new concept in honing, but it's the way I think.

This process, especially with a 4K can often take longer than "setting a new bevel", but I prefer to deal with the problem more from an academic view, rather than a tearing away at metal view. If there is a way to get contact with the bevel without tearing into the spine and making a new bevel, I'll use that approach.

After the 4/8K I usually transition to a barber hone, so that takes me to three. Instead of the big heavy 8K, I prefer the small barber hone. It fits better on the sink. The Norton looks kind of clunky next to the sink.

Again, 4K alone takes a long time, but I'm not willing to damage a razor of mine simply out of impatience.

I've discovered a lot of Ebay specials that really had decent bevels, they were just "honed" by stropping alone. Tearing away the spine, and even "bevel setting" weren't even required. Wanna talk about using minimal stones? Try finding out that the bevels were set just fine all along!

Dmt 1200
Shams blue stone 3k - love it
Coticule slurry to dilution or jnat with naguras

Normal strop.