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Stones, and Strops, and other related items ( Pictures Welcome )

Jaro

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Well as the title says, lets talk about And see all those tools that we use with our straights and knives..
 
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Looking for recommendations on getting a set of stones to start learning the art of honing. Don't want to break the bank
 
Looking for recommendations on getting a set of stones to start learning the art of honing. Don't want to break the bank

I'd advise you go for quality: you'll either end up spending it anyway, or you'll recoup more of your investment if you are trying to sell better stones.

My recommendations would be:

Bevel setter: Shapton Glass 2k (I have it and it is fantastic; cuts fast, does not leave deep stria)
Mid range: Shapton Kuromaku 5k, (an easy jump from the SG2), Naniwa Gouken 8k (you can shave off this if your earlier work is solid: you'll know if there is no swarf on this stone)
Finisher: Dan's Hard Ark (doesn't have to be a slab, 6x2 is plenty of stone)
 
What about vintage DE blade hones
I have a few of them?
 
First honing session of 2026. Took this Tanifuji to a small, buttery vintage coticule. Began with a milky slurry and finished with whisper light strokes on water. HHT off the stone was solid, after stropping on linen, superb!

 
First honing session of 2026. Took this Tanifuji to a small, buttery vintage coticule. Began with a milky slurry and finished with whisper light strokes on water. HHT off the stone was solid, after stropping on linen, superb!

I'm learning how to hone, it would be helpful if you ever video your process
 
I'm learning how to hone, it would be helpful if you ever video your process

Happy to talk through it in PM, Which, to be honest, is probably better than a video. There are a lot of honing videos on YT, and only so much you can learn watching someone else do it.
 
Went in for a quick touchup on the Ozuku when I noticed a small chip at the heel, so more significant work required. Diamond slurry on the Iromono kiita took care of that, and then finished with botan → koma on Ozuku. Lovely HHT.

scimitar-jnats-0126.jpg
 
Big Bengall on a La Gris. Fresh bevel cut on a SG2k, and then a full dilucot. HHT was good off the stone, superb after linen stropping.

bengall-lagris-0126.jpg
 
Friodur 14 on a Black Shadow

KxONyZJ.jpg
 
No Pic, but my newly added Friodur just went thru a Shapton progression 1/5/8 and finished up on Naniwa 12k
It felt great on the packing peanut test, [and a quick scrape on the face.. ]
 
No Pic, but my newly added Friodur just went thru a Shapton progression 1/5/8 and finished up on Naniwa 12k
It felt great on the packing peanut test, [and a quick scrape on the face.. ]
Come join us on the What Straight Razor Did You Use Today thread!
 
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A bit more than a touch up, as there were a few little chips along the edge. Diamond slurry to clean those up, then botan and koma to leave a lovely kasumi finish. Shave in the morning.

PAl5Yj5.jpg
 
This week: took the Starlet to the vintage coticule for a touch up. Started with a very light milky slurry and worked down to water; finished on oil. HHT off the stone was good; marvellous after stropping on linen. Shave in a couple of hours will be the real test.

fPWQbm1.jpg
 
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