Quote Originally Posted by RaymondR View Post
Hi All,

So I am researching and I have a questions regarding the Thiers Issard Bio-diamond paste system (6, 3, 1, .25) and how it fits in with hones.

If someone had say Shapton GS 1K, 4K, 8K, 16K and then started in on the pastes how much overlap could there be? Does the 6 micron paste replace some of those hones?
How would that work with other hones like Norton or Naniwa?

I am just borrowing a friends straight right now, so before I invest I want to be sure I get the right sort of setup.

Thanks and cheers!
Pasted leather on wood is an economical way to maintain one man's razor. Pasted leather
tends to clog with swarf and be less effective when a lot of razors are involved. Thus honemasters
tend to avoid it...

The modern hones Shapton, Norton or Naniwa work magic by comparison but cost more.
With hones you need something to keep them flat for which a large DMT works.
The Norton 4K/8K combo can be followed by the Naniwa 12K for a fine shave
or just stick with all Naniwa hones.

A stack of Shapton hones... well they just work.... a Shapton 16K finish is darn close to a Naniwa 12K.

Shapton hones have a grit displayed. If the same grit size was pushed down into leather
it would cut as if it was a finer grit. You will find paste on hard backed leather to often be less
aggressive than a hone of equal grit.

The TI diamond paste system starts out with an aggressive 6micron and ends with a rather
nice polish at 0.25micron... I would put 6 micron at close to a Norton 4K. It will not reset a
bevel but will tidy up an edge dull from normal shaving.

My first "Feather sharp" result was with abrasive film on glass 15 micron, 5 micron, 0.3 micron
Film is funny and lets you take these big jumps from a 1K equivalent at 15 micron to a 6k like 5 Micron
to a spooky sharp 0.3 micron edge..

So yes you have overlap if you start with a Norton 4k/8K work horse and finish with the 3,1,0.25 paste.

What does your friend use to hone with?