Which hone(s) to replace with Shaptons?

[kicker245]

Hey all,
So currently I use an N220/1k to set bevels and an N4k/8k to polish. I want to get 2 more shaptons in addition to my 16k and can't figure out which 2 of these 3 would be best: 1k, 4k, 8k. I have a coticule/BBW so my logic is to get the 1k and the 4k and use the coticule for the ~8 to ~10k range, moving up to my 16k and finishing on the kiita. What do you all think? Are the 1k and 4k shapton's even worth it? I've done little research and most shapton threads seem to be discussing the 16k and 30k stones...

 

[leighton]

I think you should buy 4ks & 8ks of the same make. 1ks are not as important, but if you can do it, I'd also recommend buying the 1k as well.

That said, as important as I make it sound, its really not important at all. I'm simply answering the question as asked. Between those three, the 4k/8k transition would be the most important to match IMHO. In the end, it probably doesn't matter.

 

[kicker245]

Thanks Leighton, that logic makes sense. I think Lynn recommended going the 4k/8k/16k route as well. Buying them would eliminate the need to soak the norton too, always a plus!

Edit: does anyone know if that $80 (absurd) holder holds more than one stone for storage or is it just used to hold an individual stone for sharpening?

I think you should buy 4ks & 8ks of the same make. 1ks are not as important, but if you can do it, I'd also recommend buying the 1k as well.

That said, as important as I make it sound, its really not important at all. I'm simply answering the question as asked. Between those three, the 4k/8k transition would be the most important to match IMHO. In the end, it probably doesn't matter.

 

[gugi]

i'd ask glen or lynn or max etc. who have actually mixed and matched and honed many razors.

 

[SavantStrike]

i'd ask glen or lynn or max etc. who have actually mixed and matched and honed many razors.

That's probably a good call, and this thread raises another question I've been thinking about recently.

Empirically speaking, shouldn't mixing and matching different hone types of different grits still deliver excellent results? As long as each hone in the progression functions as it is intended to, you should still get a good edge. That said, I do the bulk of my honing on a Norton 4k/8k, which is as matched a set as I could imagine, so I have no real world experience with whether or not mixing and matching works.

 

[GsSixgun]

Some thoughts on mixing stones...

First off right now there are some extensive Grit Charts coming over from the Knife and Japanese tools forums... If you get into reading many numbers these will tell you that all stones are different...In fact after reading some of these I honestly think they are very confusing to the art of honing razors...I said "Art" for a reason too, as people who try a pigeon hole razor honing soon find that there are no rules set in stone ....

Now in the real world actually honing razors here is what I have found,
First off I hone quite a few razors, Not as many as Lynn but more than most everyone else that I know of, I have Shapton GS, Naniwa SS, Nortons (2 different sets) Combo Coticule, some unknown white stone that I have been using since 1981 Several different Barber's Hones... I mostly use the Synthetics and usually the Shaptons and Naniwas on an everyday basis...

Nortons:
I have a 3 x 8 set and a special cut-down 1.5 x 8 set in 220/1k - 4k/8k These are by far the most versatile set of hones out there if used correctly and I have never had a problem mixing this set with anything else....

Shapton's:
The 16k is pretty universal and does get along with others, the 1k-2k -4k -8k tend to not play so well with others and like being in a closed system.... The Shapton system does work, and works very well, however it is a progressive system so you have to be experienced enough to know when to switch stones....

Naniwas:
These I have the whole set from the 400-12k I wasn't all that impressed with the 220 Naniwa when I used one of Lynn's at the NC meet up so for the rare low grit repairs I use my 220 Norton, and the 400 Naniwa that is a nice stone but rarely used..
The 1k-12k are some of the best feeling stones I have used, the edges they produce are smooooooooooth feeling, and they work really well with chippy razors like the Wackers and those huge Friodurs.... I have not tried mixing and matching with these stones nor would I, except maybe coming off a Norton 8k to the Naniwa 10k or 12k... The feed back from these stones is rather unique, so again I use these as a closed system... I do know that some people are using the Naniwa Combo stones and getting very good results...these are being used progressively and in Lynn's pyramids

Coticules are rather universal in use, depending on how you are using yours, either in the One Coticule honing that Bart prescribes too, or just as a finisher after a 8k Norton... Coticules just work and work rather well if you do your part...

Most of the other stuff I use are used as finishers on experimental stuff not on honing many razors...

 

[kicker245]

Glen, thanks for the info. I also have the 220/1k and 4k/8k half-sized Norton's and have to agree that they work incredibly well! I've been thinking a lot about the Shaptons and now I feel I should get an entire set from 1k to 16k. What do you think of the 2k and 6k stones? Would you consider them helpful but unnecessary?

 

[GsSixgun]

I actually use my 2k in the progression Shapton uses the double up approach 1-2-4-8-16 and where the heck is that 32k????

I don't use the 6k in there myself in fact I am trying to think if I have heard of any of the Shapton Fan Boys using it...... The 220 and the 500 are nice cutters too but I don't own them, although I might soon just because