Thread: Hi, New guy from Qld, Australia

Try the carbaTech website as well mate. Here Japanese Waterstones : CARBA-TEC.


Mick

Originally Posted by EdB

Has anyone tried out the Taidea stones from Auskitchen Any advice welcome.

Cheers

EdB

I have a 1 and 8K Taidea and they are far too course/gritty for my liking - the Tojiro ones are more like a Naniwa in feel (nice and velvety)

You could look at the Sigma 1, 6, 13K set from toolsfromjapan as well.

I've got them are found them really nice to use and good value (shipping is a PITA though)

Well after doing all the chasing and research on the web on the various stones and finding out that the Norton 4k/8k stone is not available in Australia and only from the USA, I finally bit the bullet and ordered one from Amazon.com, ($84 delivered) should get here by the end of the month. I had a look at Carba-tek but their single grit 8K stone was $125 so ruled that out. I figure that if some of the commercial guys are using the Norton combo stone and are happy with the results then it should do me as well. I will hone and lap them when they arrive and so should be good to go and learn how to sharpen razors on the cheapies I bought.
I also have a Japanese stone on order (Ozuka Azagi Koppa), so I will use that as the finishing stone and that should do to complete the set (for now ) unless I develop HAD, which I am really trying to resist, too many tempting choices. I have some lower grit ones already so for now I will see how these new ones go before spending the kids' inheritance on more stones.


Thanks for the help fellas.

Cheers

EdB

Carba-tec have stone holders and DMT D8C's at a reasonable price if you are in the market for them.

You should really get yourself a DMT325 (D8C) for lapping and creating slurry IMHO

Hi Havachat45, I actually ordered a large dual sided coarse and medium Diamond plate last week for that lapping and have a couple of small ones for slurry making already, so I am just about set for the sharpening part of things, although today I did go out and buy a piece of balsa wood and some very fine diamond dust (50K and 100K) for a paddle board, probably overkill and most likely won't be necessary but what the heck, seeing as I have blown out my budget well and truly, I might as well get the lot, don't know it it will make any difference and haven't read of too many people that use them as part of a sharpening routine. As for the stone holders, the Norton comes with one but I was hoping to make up some decent wood ones to keep them on and in.

Cheers

EdB

Cheers

Ed.

Originally Posted by EdB

Well after doing all the chasing and research on the web on the various stones and finding out that the Norton 4k/8k stone is not available in Australia and only from the USA, I finally bit the bullet and ordered one from Amazon.com, ($84 delivered) should get here by the end of the month. I had a look at Carba-tek but their single grit 8K stone was $125 so ruled that out.

Good on you getting the Norton, they are a great stone. (Oh, by the way, welcome). This makes me say, though, that I wish someone (or in fact I) would get off their bottom and create an Australian web site that actually features products SR shavers need. I know there's a few that offer soaps and scents, etc, and also DE stuff, but I ALWAYS have to send my money overseas if I want the stuff that all of us here know is actually quite common to us all. Stuff like strops, hones, and 'interesting' niche market 'European' soaps, creams and scents...

Maybe this is Carl's retirement plan, other than growing my hair long, taking up surfing again and experimenting with lysergic acid...

Originally Posted by EdB

Well after doing all the chasing and research on the web on the various stones and finding out that the Norton 4k/8k stone is not available in Australia and only from the USA, I finally bit the bullet and ordered one from Amazon.com, ($84 delivered) should get here by the end of the month.

Welcome to the Place Ed.
Actually you can buy the Norton in Australia but not for $84 delivered.
Lie-Nielsen Toolworks Australia | Norton Waterstones

Hi fellas, thanks for the welcome.

That place has them listed for $125 plus delivery cost (probably about $15 est.) so it would work out quite expensive for me.

In all honesty and in their defence , they aren't price gouging or ripping any one off with that figure. Even if they got a discount from buying from a wholesaler/manufacturer overseas, by the time they buy a large quantity to do so, organize to have it sent to a shipping agent, paying both the agent and for the freight to the shipping port, as well freight cost to import it here, then more customs charges, plus any duty as it will be a commercial quantity, then more clearance fees and GST on the lot, then freight to a store somewhere, it all adds up. At that stage they still haven't made any money on it, then they have to add their markup to cover costs, wages, insurances, running costs ect ect and more bloody GST. and lastly they have to make a profit 'cause that's is the reason the business exist, it's no wonder that the price is what it is. Yes, they get some of the GST paid earlier back but not enough to make a huge difference.

The only way would be to keep the cost down would be for the manufacturer to add it to their list of products here and stock it, and they won't do it 'cause the market here is probably too small for them to keep it in their price list although unless they stock it, they won't know how big that demand is!

At the end of the day, for myself I couldn't afford to buy that rock at that price, so have to get it direct from USA and cut out all the price hikes in between. Unfortunately that is the reality of running a business in Australia using products from overseas. For individuals like myself and others we just have to go on the web and ebay ect. to find the best prices we can afford. Off my soapbox now, ahh! feel much better now.

Cheers

EdB

Just wait until they start chucking GST on to all our internet purchases to prevent us from getting things cheaper overseas. Won't that be fun then?!


Mick

They do that now Mick, unless the price is below $1k & GST isn't the only fee they add then. Your $1k razor will cost about $1300 after customs take their cut.