Thread: Advice with King Japanese water stones

Hey guys. Today I purchased a set of three stones of the king brand in 1000 4000 and 8000. I am looking for any advice one might be able to give me in honeing, I am currently having issues with honeing my first blade. Here is what I have done so far;
-Bread-knifed my razor edge to set a fresh bevel and to remove a pin hole corroded through the blade
- a series of X strokes in different blade positions as well as circles to set a bevel(accomplished)
-same types of strokes on my 4k to sharpen, shaves arm hair at skin level.
-Will not pop hairs above skin and will not pass a proper HHT. Passes both the thumb nail test and the thump pad test so I know I have a keen bevel, but I honestly cannot get the razor sharper with the 4k. The blade has a slight bend in it but this I do not think is the issue. Do I muscle on through forever with the 4k? Move up to my 8k? Or go back to the 1k and start over. Any advice would help me so much thank you gents!

have you tried to shave with the razor? HHT means nothing some razor pass it some not , those that doe not pass still can shave great.
If you did tnt after the 8k, you will need to rehone from 4k up as the edge is probably ruined.

I have not moved up to my 8k, but thank you for the reassurance about the hht

I would also try it out as a quick shaver. HHT isn't always everything from what I have read. either way, keep posted and let us know how the battle goes!

I finished with the 8k this morning and polished it up a bit more with light strokes on my barber stone(I actually have no idea what type of stone it is, but it cuts finer than my king 8k) I'll shave test it tonight, it is grabbing in the HHT in some spots on the blade, so in hopeful

Good news gents, my son decided to sleep this morning after a persuading car ride, so I got to shave this morning too!
Here is how my test shave went;
110 linen, 120 red imp 700c, 120 horse hide.
3 full face passes, WTG XTG ATG.
Result was BBS with little if any irritation. This was a most peculiar shave for me today, I almost always have some irritation on my jaw line of my dominant hand, my beard grows weird there. The razor tugged a fair amount at first, though this could be because I had a 3 days growth(though my beard is rather fair) I almost always have a hard time with that one place on my jaw, but today seemed easier and like I said, no irritation or nicks. I am debating going back on my barber stone a little more, but I think my first honeing was a success! What do you guys think?

Here are my stones, my first set of hones! And some close ups of my blade edge

Holy smokes, that's a lot of stropping. Glad it worked out for you, but you might want to try it without so much, unless thats what you normally do. BTW, what is the fourth stone, on the right?

Oh, nevermind; that's one big barber hone.

Very nice set up. Use in good health.

I only strop that much when I come off of a hone, but perhaps it is extreme. My normal strip regiment is 10-20 linen and 50-60 leather. And yeah I have no idea what kind of stone it is, but it seems to work. I think it is an oil stone, it is covered in gunk minus the face, and if I dunk it in water it leaves a slight film on the water. I have scrubbed the stone a few times with water soap and a brush, but it still has a slight oily surface and smell. I never use it wet only dry.

Oh and fellow newbies looking to start a honeing system, these three stones including the nagura block cost me $133 at Lee Valley. The 8k was most expensive at $60, so if you are on a strict budget, these were the right price for me!