Thread: My first hone....

Hello !
I have 2 razors that will be professionaly honed. I will recieve one of them on wednesday.
So in the near future i plan to get a hone just for refreshing the blades. From what i've read on this forum i'm thinking at Naniwa 10k or 12k
Do you think those naniwa are good for a beginner?
Thanks !

I think Norton 4/8 is the best starter hone. You can use 8k side for refreshing and it still has the 4k for setting a bevel, just in case, touch wood, you ding the blade.

If you really want just a finisher, the Naniwa SS 12K is hard to beat.

Hey, NC

For just refreshing, you'll need to be fairly vigilant on the edge condition. The N12 will do the job well, but you must keep the edge from degrading too far or you'll need something in the 8k range as well. The shave from the N12, I find entirely pleasing - maybe the best finisher for the buck I know of.

I think you'll find Glen's vids on the Naniwa progression to be quite helpful. I seem to lack the expertise to accomplish the finish in the mere 10 strokes of a Lynn or a Glen, but you could be quite content w/ a nani finish. My Friodur currently wears a N12 finish, courtesy of the honorable Cudarunner, and its so good I have no inclination to take it to the gucci naturals I normally prefer.

Here is what i want to do guys: buy now Naniwa 12k to maintain the edge and then after 1-2 months get Naniwa 3k/8k combo. Is this a good plan? Do i need something in between 3k/8k and 12k ?
And who knows if i get the feel of it maybe later i get something in the range of 1k just to have fun with old dull razors...

Originally Posted by NCB

Here is what i want to do guys: buy now Naniwa 12k to maintain the edge and then after 1-2 months get Naniwa 3k/8k combo. Is this a good plan? Do i need something in between 3k/8k and 12k ?
And who knows if i get the feel of it maybe later i get something in the range of 1k just to have fun with old dull razors...

That's a good plan. No need for anything in between. Like you say in the future, if you end up acquiring an old, dull razor or 2, a stone in the 1k range will make setting a bevel faster. Do you have something to lap your stones flat? I recommend the DMT 325 diamond plate for it's ease and simplicity. There are other alternatives but I've found I like the DMT the best. The 3"x8" DMT 325 plate is possibly the most common size used here. I wouldn't go any smaller than that for sure and I ended up with the 4"x10" plate which is even easier to work with as it gives a little more room to play.


Here's what they look like. The one many use is referred to as the DMT Dia-Sharp D8C 8x3x3/8 in. Diamond Plate - Coarse (C) - 45 Micron - 325 Grit. The only difference with mine is it's 10x4x3/8 in. In my opinion you will only need the Coarse 325 grit so don't worry about the other grits.

i think the 10k or 12k will be perfect for touch ups . you can build on the full set as you go. lap them with dmt325 its a great investmant. i have the 1ok and that works very well...

gary

look into a barber hone...you can get them on ebay much cheaper than the stone you are thinking of. they do an amazing job at keeping an edge freshened up once in a while. if all you need to do is maintain a professionally honed blade then it would be the perfect starter hone for you. I own 3 of them and use them every other week on my razors and it keeps them running in tip top shape. they all differ in grits but it should be quite easy to find a hard stone within the 8-11k range. either way. goodluck and enjoy
Shayne.

Ok guys ! I will get Naniwa 12K for now.
I have one "little" problem i can't find in my country(Romania) dmt 325 stone. And if i order it from the US it will be too expensive.
In my country i can get King 250/1000 combo. Is this a good laping stone ?

Originally Posted by NCB

Ok guys ! I will get Naniwa 12K for now.
I have one "little" problem i can't find in my country(Romania) dmt 325 stone. And if i order it from the US it will be too expensive.
In my country i can get King 250/1000 combo. Is this a good laping stone ?

I wouldn't consider a stone for lapping 'cause you have the issue of knowing if it is flat or not.
That is the reason that most of us go for a DMT or equivalent.
Have a look on the bay for an equivalent plate - just don't go for a 150mm one - it's too small to lap effectively
A cheap granite tile and wet & dry sandpaper would work as well