Setting up shop

Well I'm just getting into restorations (and straight edges in general). Currently I have a couple of blades to restore, and sandpaper of 180,400, and 600 grit and have been working out the pitting and rust spots. Also have some wood and tools for making scales (I'm a sucker for those beautiful hardwood scales)

But being a careful shopper I was hoping to get some advice on where to go from here. What ranges of papers do you guys usually carry?

But my big question was about sharpening stones. I've been reading up on it a lot and have narrowed it down a bit.

On the interactive guide over at badger and blade the author seems to think that the DMT 8k is a better choice than the Nortan 4/8. Cuts faster, polishes finer. about 30$ cheaper too, and it enver has to be leveled out. So I was thinking about going with that, but a lot of people still seem to hold that norton is the best for a begginer.

I was also thinking of picking up a chinese 12k, which seems to be sufficient for finishing. Part of me really wants the 4 sided strop and paste, as the idea of finishing up with a .25 micron finish is attractive, but the chinese is 40$ cheaper, and seems to be a very good finish as well.

But will it need to be lapped as soon as I get it? If I had to immediately buy a 30$ lapping stone as well that makes the strop more attractive.

Finally, would the DMT 8k diamond be good enough for setting the bevel on an old razor, or do I need to get a lower grit stone as well.

Finally, am I missing anything? I am planning on ordering the restoration CD tonight, once I figure out where to get it, but was hoping for some thoughts on shop set up. Anyways, thanks.

P.s. oh, and I'm hoping to use the set up for tool sharpening too. So a lower grit is probably required too. Hmm.

you got a few questions there, and i can give my input on a couple. sandpaper, i got 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2400. you can get most grits at harbour freight, rockler woodworking, and the 1000 and 2000 you can get at walmart. look at the auto repair section with the bondo.

sharpening stones. you can make quite a few different stones do what you need, but you need to get one to truly form an opinion. i started with the chinese king stones and now i also have a norton 4/8k. i use my kings 800 and 4000 and the norton 8k, followed by cro-ox and diamond pasted paddles and bench hones. it is just what works for me. whatever you choose, good luck with it.

as for the bevel, i cannot speak on the DMT 8k. i use the king 800 vs the 4k with great success. the 4k just takes way to long for me.

i use lots of other 'stuff', but this is what i have acquired and learned with. read the restoration FAQ and essentials. that page will help you a lot.

good luck to you.

vgod

Hello, you are asking the same questions we have all had.

I can help you with one part. When I am working on a vintage razor trying to restore the bevel I almost always use a piece of 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper placed on the top of the hone. It is fast and cheap. If necessary you can use a lower grit to remove a large nick in the blade.
You can also use some of the finer grit sandpaper to further refine the bevel if you wish. I usually go from 1000 sandpaper to a Norton 4000.
How the DMT would handle this transition I do not know. The Norton 4000 handles this just fine. Hopefully someone will chime in on this point.

If I were starting over I would skip the chinese 12k and first buy the 4 sided paddle strop with 3, 1, 0.5 and 0.25 pastes. Actually I would use the 1 and the 0.5 on a 2 sided paddle strop. That will do a lot for finishing or refreshing an edge. The 3.0 I have never used ( no need to, the 8000 serves for that grit size) and the 0.25 is just to sharp for my skin.

Some others will argue for the belgian coticules and blue stones. They are also very good stones to consider.


Hope this helps,:)

You mentioned getting a $30 lapping stone for the Chinese 12K. If you are referring to the Norton lapping stone, don't bother. The Chinese 12K is way too hard of a stone to be lapped by the Norton. All you will accomplish is to trash the Norton and then you will need a DMT plate or sandpaper to lap the Norton lapping stone.
I like the Chinese 12K, so I am not trying to influence your decision on it one way or the other. I'm just saying that you cannot lap it with a Norton lappng stone.