Thread: Newb with straights and hones

Hey all
Im new to straights and have a kamisori on the way. Actually, I have 2 on the way but only one can truly be called a kamisori, the newb experience is unforgiving!.
Anyhow, I am rather familiar with using hones. I have a Norton 4/8 that I use on my hunting knives and routinely achieve hair popping edges. I understand that the steel, technique and use are all going to be different for the straights. I am simply curious as to what other hone I should pick up. I have read that the kamisoris are generally made with a harder steel and can take a higher grit than the Norton.
How much of my knife sharpening can I rely on during the learning phase? What higher grit stone can you recommend?
Thanks all

Hi Gigglemonk!!

Your question has a thousand answers and each person to answer will have a different preference. But!! Here is the usual breakdown of stones most use.

So, you have a Norton 4/8k. That is really all you need to set a bevel and achieve a shave ready razor. Most folks will tell you that you don't really need anything else, as long as the 4/8k is flat and ready for honing razors.

A DMT D8C (325 grit) is a must for flattening and making slurry. A Stone holder for it is a great thing to have as well.

A lot of folks will use a lower grit stone (say a 800 to 1k) to set their bevels before taking it to the norton.

Then after the 4/8 you can go to high grit polishing stones to perfect your edge as you might like it. I have a C12K to finish on after th 8k and that is all I use. Others have everything else, including naturals, Coti's, Thuri's, JNats, you name it, if it is higher than the 8k it is a finisher.

But to re-iterate, the only thing really needed is the 4/8. All else is preference IMO (and as I've been taught here many times).

Good Luck!! And welcome to the brotherhood!!

M

gigglemonk,

Please have a peek at these most excellent video tutorials on honing by GSSixgun :

gssixgun - YouTube

Aside from demonstrating many different types of hones, he has specific tutorials on honing kamisori.
Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Knife and razor honing are 2 diff things. Try not to apply your knife approach to the razor. Watch the vids and see. If your razors come shave ready then 4/8 k will maintain them. If not then a 1k will be needed. I recomend a chosera. Well worth the money but if it is too much then a norton or king. I dont know how to hone a Kamisori but i have heard it is a bit diff on the number of strokes per side. With a razor it is even with a Kami its not. I think.

For a finish there are many options from natural to synthetic. Syn give consistant results. Nat very from stone to stone.

Originally Posted by mjhammer

Hi Gigglemonk!!

Your question has a thousand answers and each person to answer will have a different preference. But!! Here is the usual breakdown of stones most use.

So, you have a Norton 4/8k. That is really all you need to set a bevel and achieve a shave ready razor. Most folks will tell you that you don't really need anything else, as long as the 4/8k is flat and ready for honing razors.

A DMT D8C (325 grit) is a must for flattening and making slurry. A Stone holder for it is a great thing to have as well.

A lot of folks will use a lower grit stone (say a 800 to 1k) to set their bevels before taking it to the norton.

Then after the 4/8 you can go to high grit polishing stones to perfect your edge as you might like it. I have a C12K to finish on after th 8k and that is all I use. Others have everything else, including naturals, Coti's, Thuri's, JNats, you name it, if it is higher than the 8k it is a finisher.

But to re-iterate, the only thing really needed is the 4/8. All else is preference IMO (and as I've been taught here many times).

Good Luck!! And welcome to the brotherhood!!

M

+1 on the Norton 4K/8K, it's basically the gold standard.

The norton 4/8k is the way to go. All you need to be able to shave. After that the story gets really interesting. There's a panoply of finer stone to finish: belgian yellow coticules, japanese naturals (risky), german eschers, shaptons, etc. Learn how to set a bevel and shave on the norton. This is where it's at. Time and effort well spent. Then cruise the forums to learn more. Good luck.

"Knives" and "razors" sharpen the same way. Only the degree of fineness are generally different between them.

They do sharpen in the same way but the methods are quit different