My first razor was a hand down from my grandfathers; cleaned only by one of the professionals here , stored safely away, not honed. Ordered my first razor from this person and I asked him for a list of hones to learn with. He stated a Norton 220/1000, 4000/8000 and a Shapton 16000. He said that's all I will need, for the rest of my straight razor life. He was right; 34 razors later and I only use these "3" stones to bring to shave ready. I learn what to expect from these stones, on different types of straights. My technique improves with each new razor and refreshing the ones I have.

BUT......

I love stones/hones, I've collected no less that 40 more this past year. Only one other hone has been used on my shave ready razors. It's a piece of Welch slate, cut into a hone, here in Ft. Lauderdale; just to experiment with the slate. I don't see it becoming the 4th hone in my routine. I like to collect, call it H.A.D. , if you like.

If I had Donald Trump's money; I would live in a house made of hones!!
Laugh at me if you want; I've been laughed at by the best of them.