Thread: Long Jump??

You can BUT
It will take a while to polish out 3k scratch with a 12k.

A new honer should have at least one intermediate step. JMO

I would get an 8k to manage the jump.

ye you're probably right. i'm on a real tight budget and probably trying to get too far too soon. don't mind putting the extra work in though. i have however got a shave from a fairly poor 1k-4k stone followed by quite a bit of work on a welsh slate. close shave but pulls quite a bit. thanks for the swift reply btw

I'm with Dave. I know Glen and Lynn did a thing with 1K and finish. There is a thread on it, I believe it is called one stone honing. When I get to that kind of a skill level I will be able to do magic too. In the mean time for those of us with intermediate or beginning skill sets the middle stones make life easier. I go 1K, 4K, 8K, then finisher. Some even put a 12K before the finisher.

Doh! gonna have to wait a while then. or send it out for a sharpen perhaps. many thanks

When you factor in the cost of hones and the time consumed by learning to hone it is far cheaper to send your blades out. There are many member here that just do a little touch up and then send their razors out ever now and again. There are enough guys that hone, that most people are a few days post from the nearest pro.

yeah wise words, thanks. i do love the challenge though and feel that the £15 or whatever spent on a sharpen is a good chunk of a nice new stone. wot a dilemma…guess i'm just tight too eh

I go 1k to can't. Its not different than going 1k to using a coticule for the rest. Just build up a slurry and dilute as you go. It does take a little bit longer than a coticule but not much. There is a member here goes by the name of "Steel" or something like that. He came up with a great way to do it with the chinese 12k. My first hone was a coticule. So its not impossible to learn just might take a little longer to get really good edges.

if you have the welsh slate that COULD be used as your finisher, depending on which one. i know some guys really like them and some dont, there are a lot of threads about them. the issue with natural stones is that they all differ and grit ratings seem to be a bit subjective, its probably worth giving what you already have a go before committing to a 12k as well.
Also it is worth seeing if there are any members in your area who have a bit of honing experience who would be prepared to meet up with you as that willl speed up your learning and also may provide an opportunity to try some stones out.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

if you have the welsh slate that COULD be used as your finisher, depending on which one. i know some guys really like them and some dont, there are a lot of threads about them. the issue with natural stones is that they all differ and grit ratings seem to be a bit subjective, its probably worth giving what you already have a go before committing to a 12k as well.
Also it is worth seeing if there are any members in your area who have a bit of honing experience who would be prepared to meet up with you as that willl speed up your learning and also may provide an opportunity to try some stones out.

I second what's been said here. The Welsh Slates can be very good hones, and I don't see the point in getting a C12K (which could also not perform to your expectations). I'm not going to claim that AJ's Welsh hones are universally liked, or consistent, but I found that they can be excellent finishers. Also, if you use them in progression, things speed up.

I prefer to progress from a set bevel to the Dragon's Tongue, then the LM and then the unidentified grey slate. I then move back to the LM on pure water for a few laps, as I find that smooths the edge out a bit. This may not be the best protocol, but it works for me.

well it is actually a DT and i may now have more success with it after the 8k… WTS