Thread: 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.