Thread: What would you buy next?

Interested in a little advice.

My current honing arsenal includes the following:

Norton kit 220/1k/4k/8k and the "flattening stone" that isn't flat
DMT8C (should have bought that a LONG time ago)
Synthetic Nagura slurry stone
Felt Strop with 1.0 diamond spray
Felt strop with 0.5 CrO spray
SRD Premium IV leather strop with nylon webbed fabric

Can you guess where I shop??

My goal is to maintain my personal use razors (about a half dozen or so) and restore/refreshen the occasional razor. I'm not looking to run a honing business or anything like that. So far, I'm getting decent, shavable edges. Nothing like what I got from Lynn on my first razor, but definitely shavable However, I'd like to take things up just a notch. I'm thinking of a good finisher like a Naniwa 10k, or something along those lines.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

--David

Yes, I would recommend a finisher as it looks like you have your bases covered well. Synthetics are a bit easier to learn. For your first finisher, I would recommend a Naniwa 12K Superstone from SRD...your favorite place to shop.. Then a thuringian, then whatever strikes your fancy.

I agree on the Naniwa 12k. I just like the feel of it, like butter. Oh yeah, and it gives a great finish too.
But, what would I/we RAD, HAD sufferers buy!!! MORE!!! MORE!!! MORE!!! You're being too rational about this whole thing. None of us buy just because we need it. We've got to have it!! We've got hones to hone hones! Holsters, that's what we need - for hones. Have Hone Will Travel reads the card of "a desperately sick HAD junkie"! Oh, what would I buy next? My wife thinks maybe a visit with a psychotherapist. Alright, I got a little carried away, Sorry!! Seriously though, the Naniwa 12 k is a great finishing stone. I haven't had the opportunity to try a thuringian, but hear a lot of good about them. What would I buy next? Oh, Shooter, why did you mention that T?

A coticule would fit in there nicely.

I would say a coticule or maybe a good jnat

The progression of grits you are using is not bad at all. A 10k or 12k may improve things slightly or it may not.

Are you sure you've gotten the best you can out of the Norton's ?

Originally Posted by onimaru55

The progression of grits you are using is not bad at all. A 10k or 12k may improve things slightly or it may not.

Are you sure you've gotten the best you can out of the Norton's ?

A certain person whom is well known for his honing expertise has personally told me that anything above a Norton 8k is BS! After that level it's all about 'Personal Preference'!!

I've found this very true!!! I do finish with a Naniwa 12k but I've gotten wonderful shaves off of the Norton 8k!

I've never shaved off 8K. I figure I have all these rocks here, 3 over 8K, and I might as well use them. I find the cuts I get with a razor off 30K are more impressive.

I think a chosera 1k in place of the norton 1k. I started with the norton. once i got the chosera the edges were much better. A 10k is not a huge jump from 8k at that high level. Maybe a 12 k nanawa? I jump from a 8knorton to a 16k shapton. I never get any irritation and always a smooth shave.

12k Naniwa. I always finish with that after my Nortons, and it puts a very nice edge on a razor.