Budget honing stones for the beginner

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291
I would like to attempt to teach myself honing, firstly to try and restore to their former glory my ebay purchases, and secondly to then be able to maintain my own razor(s).

Now whilst i recognise that this is one of those jobs that requires the right tools i don't really want to spend loads of cash on some thing that i may not get on with, at least not straight away anyway, and on the flipside of that i'm sure this is one of those things where you very much get what you pay for. So with that last point in mind i have discounted all the e bay specials that go for less than a tenner but have come across this:

https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-naniwa-combination-stone-cs-510-430.htm

It seems to be a trusted brand (Naniwa) so the grit rating should be accurate, and provides two different grit in one stone (1000/3000) and i can get a lapping stone as well all in for £40, which should provide me with a good starting point i thought.

Any feedback on this potential purchase? Thanks.
 
Personally..I Would Get a Naniwa Pro 1 K as I Mentioned the Other Day..Cheap Stones are Cheap Stones..You Want the Best to Learn On..But Hey..Folks Do what they Do..Make Life Hard for Themselves..;)

If Ya are Looking for a Cheap & Efficient Honing System..A Naniwa 1 K Pro Stone for Bevel Setting..12, 9, 5, 3, 1 Micron Lapping Film..For a Progression is All Ya Need for Honing Personal Razors..Thats a Fantastic Honing System ..Trust Me..ASDA Price..:D:D
https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...ahUKEwi_iYD3qKPZAhWRN8AKHV-LC4QQ0QwIKQ&adurl=

Billy
 
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Personally..I Would Get a Naniwa Pro 1 K as I Mentioned the Other Day..Cheap Stones are Cheap Stones..You Want the Best to Learn On..But Hey..Folks Do what they Do..Make Life Hard for Themselves..;)

If Ya are Looking for a Cheap & Efficient Honing System..A Naniwa 1 K Pro Stone for Bevel Setting..12, 9, 5, 3, 1 Micron Lapping Film..For a Progression is All Ya Need for Honing Personal Razors..Thats a Fantastic Honing System ..Trust Me..ASDA Price..:D:D
https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...ahUKEwi_iYD3qKPZAhWRN8AKHV-LC4QQ0QwIKQ&adurl=

Billy

Thanks for the reply, i did keep your advice in mind when looking for a stone, i just wondered if i needed the pro level stone, in many applications pro level items are often no better in application than the same budget version by the same company, just a lot more durable as designed for daily rather than occasional use, which is what i'll only being using it for.

Great shout on those lapping films, i've never even heard of those before, i think they will be a definite purchase :)
 
Thanks for the reply, i did keep your advice in mind when looking for a stone, i just wondered if i needed the pro level stone, in many applications pro level items are often no better in application than the same budget version by the same company, just a lot more durable as designed for daily rather than occasional use, which is what i'll only being using it for.

Great shout on those lapping films, i've never even heard of those before, i think they will be a definite purchase :)
You Aint Gonna Get a Porsche for the Price of a Skoda..Those Cheaper Naniwa Stones are NOT Near the Quality of the Pro or Super Stone Range..In Application or Ease of Use..Budget Stones are a Waste of Money, Time & Energy..The Naniwa 1 K Pro Stone is Probably the Finest Bevel Setter on the Planet Today..:D

Billy
 
As I am cheap I use 30 micron lapping film for bevel setting. Not sure about the 600 grit rating as 800 grit wet and dry to me definitely feels more abrasive. Maybe it is just not possible to compare grits between different media. In the progression I skip 9 micron, finding step to close between 12 and 9 and as said I am cheap, so my take is 30-12-5-3-1+1 with an xtra gentle touch :)
 
Billy, sorry for hijacking thread. Is this stone ok
https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-naniwa-professional-stone-p310.htm
And then a Progression of lapping film
Sure is OK..Thats the Naniwa 1 K Pro Stone that I have Been Recommending..It Used to be Called the Naniwa Chosera before they Changed to the Pro Stones Line of Hones..Yes..A Lapping Film Progression is as Easy to Use as any High End Synthetic Hones..Just a Few Extra Laps is All..o_O

I Dont Recommend Lapping Film for Bevel Setting..Been there..Its Far from Ideal..Trust Me..The Naniwa 1 K & a Lapping Film Progression as I Outlined above is a Fantastic Honing System.. :D

Billy
 
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As I am cheap I use 30 micron lapping film for bevel setting. Not sure about the 600 grit rating as 800 grit wet and dry to me definitely feels more abrasive. Maybe it is just not possible to compare grits between different media. In the progression I skip 9 micron, finding step to close between 12 and 9 and as said I am cheap, so my take is 30-12-5-3-1+1 with an xtra gentle touch :)
The Jump from 12 to 5 is Far Too Big a Leap..The 9 Micron In between will Transform the System by Filling the Hole..It Can be Done..Yeah..But..The Inexperienced Guy is Up to Run into Trouble..I Highly Advise Not to Miss it Out..I have Done it But the 9 Micron Makes a Big Difference..It Tightens Up the Progression & Consistency of the System ..:D:D

Billy
 
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It is a big step from 1600 grit to 4500 grit, not ideal, but 1800 grit to 4500 grit is still a big step, a 200 grit difference is it worth the effort, maybe better forget grits and just like with 30 micron film let actual effect of film decide if it is a good or bad choice, will give it a shot.
 
It is a big step from 1600 grit to 4500 grit, not ideal, but 1800 grit to 4500 grit is still a big step, a 200 grit difference is it worth the effort, maybe better forget grits and just like with 30 micron film let actual effect of film decide if it is a good or bad choice, will give it a shot.
What You Do is Fine..What I Can Do & What Other Experienced Guys Can Do is NOT Necessary the Best Advice for a Beginner..Neither is Voodoo Figures..This is Where Confusion Lays in Forums..o_O

I Am Offering the Best Advice I Can to Beginners & the System I have Outlined is Bang On..Its a Consistent System without Guess Work & is Ideal to LEARN On..In Plain Language..:D:D

Billy
 
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There's a lot of ways to get into honing inexpensively. This isn't rocket science. i have the inexpensive Naniwa 1k. It works. If you aren't going to hone commercially you are probably only going to need the 1k once for each blade that you have.

i also have 2 small slip stones 4k and 8k and a smal "CNAT" finished stone. The 1K was about $25, the 4k and the 8k were each about $25 and the finished stone (a small cut down version) was about $15.

Once you get your blades honed, other than stropping, the finishing hone is all you will need for a long time.
 
Personally..I Would Get a Naniwa Pro 1 K as I Mentioned the Other Day..Cheap Stones are Cheap Stones..You Want the Best to Learn On..But Hey..Folks Do what they Do..Make Life Hard for Themselves..;)

If Ya are Looking for a Cheap & Efficient Honing System..A Naniwa 1 K Pro Stone for Bevel Setting..12, 9, 5, 3, 1 Micron Lapping Film..For a Progression is All Ya Need for Honing Personal Razors..Thats a Fantastic Honing System ..Trust Me..ASDA Price..:D:D
https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...ahUKEwi_iYD3qKPZAhWRN8AKHV-LC4QQ0QwIKQ&adurl=

Billy
Hi Billy, can you explain to us how you use the Lapping film?
I guess that it needs to be on the flattest surface possible, do you use it blade edge leading, like you would with a stone, or blade edge trailing?
Also, do you use it wet or dry?
Many thanks..
 
Hi Billy, can you explain to us how you use the Lapping film?
I guess that it needs to be on the flattest surface possible, do you use it blade edge leading, like you would with a stone, or blade edge trailing?
Also, do you use it wet or dry?
Many thanks..
I can answer a couple of those questions, I think! :D

Yes, flattest surface possible. You can buy exceptionally flat glass which works well with it - I'm fairly sure someone on here had a good source for 'lapping glass', as it is often known... It'll need to be wet as this helps the lapping film 'bind' to the flat surface, minimising the risk of tears as well as reducing the risk of rounding the blade, and it is edge first until you strop! I.e. edge first like you would with a stone, as you said.
 
Hi Billy, can you explain to us how you use the Lapping film?
I guess that it needs to be on the flattest surface possible, do you use it blade edge leading, like you would with a stone, or blade edge trailing?
Also, do you use it wet or dry?
Many thanks..
As Advised Above..A Piece of Glass is Fine..or Marble or Summit..Any Joiners Joint Should be Able to Cut Ya.. Say 22 Cm By 7 or 8 Cm Piece of Heavy Glass..There are 2 Ways..You Can Use One Piece Only as a Base Plate..That Means Using Water Underneath to Suck it Down as it Comes Sticky Back..You Can Remove the Film & Re Use the Same Base Plate for the Full Progression..o_O

The 2nd Way is to Get Multiple Pieces Cut & Just Stick the Film Down Permanently or Until it Needs Renewed..When I was Using Film as a Progression I Used the Former Method..Just Make Sure there are Zero Air Bubbles Underneath..Its Easy Once You Get the Hang of it..:)

I Hone with the Edge & Heel Slightly Leading for Most of My Strokes..You Can Use Fancy Pig Tail Type Strokes which Involve Both Blade & Spine Leading or Circles..Probably Best to Stick to Edge leading X Strokes Until You Get the Hang of it..You Can Also Use Small Circles Up & Down the Hone on the Lower Grit Hones to Speed things Up..:rolleyes:

In Short the Same as Any Hone..Light Pressure is All thats Needed..Dont Go at it Hammer & Tongs..Lapping Film is Quite a Fast Cutter in Capable Hands..:D

Billy
 
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