Thread: How sharp do you like it?

Originally Posted by nessmuck

I gave up straights...and just use clam shells now

Yeah, but what grit do you hone them to?

I started honing with a King 1000 and a King 6000 to finish with, and was able to get several razors sharp and smooth with several lacking the smoothness that I wanted.
Then, after a few months, I bought the Norton 4000/8000 and improved my odds of honing to a very smooth and sharp edge.
Finally I sprung for set of Naniwa Super Stones. This consists of a 1000, 5000, and a 12,000.
I have gone back to the razors that left me wanting for smoothness and find that I can improve their smoothness to a acceptable degree and almost all of them come out really really nice.
As my hone collection grew so did my ability to hone. I should go back to the King 6,000 and see what my improved abilities would produce.
For me the magic grit numbers for a finisher has ranged from 6,000 to 12,000 with me not feeling like I need anything else.

There is a Secret Text of Sharpening like the Lost Sea Scrolls that you might get lucky enough to see some day. Aside from sharp straight razors it explains the origins of complex cultures and what happens after you die. If you stay around the forum there is a chance you might see a copy but you can never own one as they are Moderated. Good Luck.
I'm a stray cat.

Originally Posted by LikesBBS

Sixgun should send me a razor to hone... you will like it ... promise. And I won't charge a penny

Wake Up!!!!!, LikesBBS,,,,Wake Up!!!!,,,,it's just a bad dream son,,,,,,

Originally Posted by Johnl

warning for all who don't know glen he practices on his cats before he sends the blades back. if his cats sit still for the shave he knows he has it sharp enough lol.

You ever see Glen's cat? He hones a lot.....

OMG Rich that is not a cat that is a freaking Alien that is just wrong on so many levels

Mikawa Nagura progression ended with a light slurry of Narutaki Jizuya on a Otaniyama Asagi Kamisori is sharp enough for me!
Grits, dunno!

Originally Posted by Lemur

Mikawa Nagura progression ended with a light slurry of Narutaki Jizuya on a Otaniyama Asagi Kamisori is sharp enough for me!
Grits, dunno!

"LikeBBS" Did you get that....?


I heard Kiita Japanese Natual stones are only $5000.00 Makes you want to shave with a disposable, right....

You should master the 1, 4, 8k stones. Norton is a good choice for a beginner. 1k, is the bevel setter, 4k for sharpening, and 8k for finishing. One you master those, Grasshopper, move onto a 12k. The Chinese phig, or poeples hone, the one at woodcraft.http://www.woodcraft.com/product/200...234-x-114.aspx

It's not a bad hone, It was my first higher grit and I liked the shaves I got off it. It works better with a little bit of slurry, dilute as you go, finish on water. It's affordable, an 8x3 is about 40.00, or you could grab the Naniwa 12k, or Chosera 10k, but they are a bit expensive unless your a Jnat afficiando, and don't mind blowing thousands on rocks.

Just remember you don't have to spend a ton of money, or buy fancy gear to get great shaves....Just try to enjoy the whole experience.

Although it is treated as such, honing isn't a dark art. It's simply a process. We all like to get hung up on the YMMV aspect when noobs ask these kinds of questions. I know I hit a brick wall when I started asking these kinds of questions much like LikeBBS has in this thread. I can honestly say that I know the place from which his question originated, and the frustration that answers like he's received can cause. That being said, I'll do my best to answer what he asked. Just bear in mind that what works for me won't necessarily work for you.

I use a Norton 1k to set bevels, then use Shapton GS series stones and take the edge out to 16k. After that, I finish on my Shuobudani or I use my dark blue Escher. This progression works for me 9 times out of 10.

Originally Posted by myersn024

Although it is treated as such, honing isn't a dark art. It's simply a process. We all like to get hung up on the YMMV aspect when noobs ask these kinds of questions. I know I hit a brick wall when I started asking these kinds of questions much like LikeBBS has in this thread. I can honestly say that I know the place from which his question originated, and the frustration that answers like he's received can cause. That being said, I'll do my best to answer what he asked. Just bear in mind that what works for me won't necessarily work for you.

.

Wow I think you just said YMMV


BTW the answer is actually in his hands already,, The Norton 1-4-8
I (and most everyone with experience) can produce a Comfortable shaving edge on those 99/100 times... the one being a possible bad blade..
Above that level (Naniwa 1,3,8 Shapton 1,4,8 etc: etc) is just icing on the cake and until it is just that, no amount of Money or Stone will help the edge, hence we call the icing "YMMV"