Thread: Here is my hone setup.

I have a Chinese 12k, a Carborundum Aloxite #200 (Niagara Falls) Barber Hone and a pasted balsa strop. What am I missing to have a complete honing setup (basic), a 4k stone? a Norton 4k/8k? I am assuming that the Aloxite barber hone is around 8k, which would eliminate the need for an 8k grit stone?

Yeah, most def a Norton 4/8. I guess you've checked out JaNorton? We're all raving about how good the 4/8 is. I guess a lot of guys have them, but they have a lot more too. I only have the 4/8 and a Shapton 16k. I'm very new to honing, but in practising with the 4/8 this month I've decided it really is all one needs, and I've also decided I can hone quite well...I'm getting really excellent results. The JaNorton thingy increased my learning exponentially!

yes a 4/8k is all you need ,unless you want to buy some ebay razors to restore then you'll need a 1k. the 1k is the bread and butter of bevel setting.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Yeah, most def a Norton 4/8. I guess you've checked out JaNorton? We're all raving about how good the 4/8 is. I guess a lot of guys have them, but they have a lot more too. I only have the 4/8 and a Shapton 16k. I'm very new to honing, but in practising with the 4/8 this month I've decided it really is all one needs, and I've also decided I can hone quite well...I'm getting really excellent results. The JaNorton thingy increased my learning exponentially!

OK, I'll bite. What is the "JaNorton thingy" I'm new to honing and do not have a clue to what this is.

Barry

I think it's a combination of the words January and Norton. There's a big thread going with several people honing only on the Norton 4/8, and comparing results, techniques, etc. Just search JaNorton, and you should find it fairly quickly.

Eucrisboy, I'd suggest you spend a month or more with what you currently have, before your next purchase. If you lock yourself in to making what you have work, you're skills will improve at a faster rate. And when you do finally get your next stone, you'll be able to figure it out a heck of a lot quicker. Just the humble opinion of a guy who bought 15 stones in 2 weeks, and finally got a clue. I'm down to 5 now btw, of which I'm currently using 3. Glenn posted to me once, after you get it right(stroke and technique), it won't much matter which stone you use. That's paraphrasing of course, but you get the idea.

The answer to your question really depends on what you want to do. If you just want to keep your allready honed edges in check well then you're good to go with what you have If you want to go from start to finish and set bevels then you'll need a 1k and something in between, as already mentioned the Norton 4/8k combo is a good choice. Hope this helps

If the barber hone is in the 8k range, you could get away with a King 1k/6k combo. I used that set up for a couple of months while I saved up for the 1200/8k combo. It will work but the b-hone isn't a long term solution for a 8k, especially if you plan on honing a lot of razors.

Link to the JaNorton thread. LOTS of good info, check it out!

The Famous/Infamous Norton 4/8 "JaNorton 2012"

I actually think the Norton Prep stone's slurry could be used on a barber's hone for faster light rebeveling rather than getting a new combo stone. But if the aloxite is around 8k then a Norton 1k/4k could be even better.

I dont think you can go wrong with the norton 4/8, everyone seems to like them