[kaptain_zero]

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I like the way you think.

This hone was on the low end of O_S's offerings, and it was in the $200 range. His typical hones seem to run a good bit higher.

But using the Professor's logic, consider that a $350 hone might save you from buying the $300-ish Shapton 30K, plus a $1,000 Escher. So you're already $950 ahead of the game. And you might end up selling some hones that you already own... How can you NOT afford to get one?

Josh

The word "Might" in this context comes under the heading of the "Faint hope clause". Frankly, the only way to justify the savings of buying a $350 Japanese hone is to *prove beyond a shadow of a doubt* that it indeed is as good or better than a $300 Shapton + a $1K Escher and or the extra special Coticules with the ultra rare tiger striping, but only the ones with the 3.7 stripes per inch, unless it's metrically measured in which case it is entirely different and I'd need to start over again.....

Anyway, it sounds like even the $200 range can purchase a quality stone, if not the ultimate and do a darn fine job. I've been ogling a Japanese natural at the local Lee Valley store... it's in the show case, going for a song as it is a *seconds*, they've stopped bringing them in and it's not generating any interest. I have no illusions that it's in the class of these razor grade hones but then again... I don't know that for a fact and the price is sub $100.

All I do know is that my partial set of glass Shaptons are in transit, perhaps I should wait until I put them through the wringer and see what kind of shaves I get out of them before buying more stuff........

Regards

Kaptain "I never realized a common leather wallet could have a hair trigger!?!?" Zero