I am trying to decide.... Work sharp or set of quality stones

Stones

A good set will last a lifetime and the ritual of using stones is zen for me.

I have used natural stones and Diamond hones. I MUCH prefer diamond hones.

Hi JJ.

Well dia-sharp stones. And yes it is JJ

Hello.

I prefer Japanese ceramic water stones for my 3000 to 12000 grits and Arkansas for the course stuff.

I've never seen those..... What do they run cost wise???

JJ, those grits are for your razors, right?

It would leave one very polished edge!!!

You can get Arkansas stones for $25 and up to a few hundred. It all depends on the quality and grit. Best Sharpening Stones produce quality Arkansas stones. I have a few.

Japanese water stones are a little more pricy, but I haven't found anything that matches their fine grit performance ... except for the new Shapton Glass Stones. I recently got a 8000 grit and am impressed.

I would like to get a 30,000 (that is not a typo) for the final touches on my razors. (yes Skunk. You were correct) I will get a Shapton Glass 30,000 when I find it for under $300

If you get into water stones or the glass stones, which are water stones too, I suggest a sharpening pond. Keeps them wet. You can have a cup of water handy and just scoop some out with your hands every few minutes. A pond is just handy.

I'm not sure what I will be getting yet

Those high grits do polish an edge to a mirror, not mirror like, mirror.

After the 12000, without stropping, my razors pass a hanging hair test with easy. That is, you can hold a hair and brush it across the edge and it splits. There are videos of hanging hair test if you are wondering what a sharp edge really does.

I have a clean strop for preshave and a loaded strop for weekly maintenance. I have a light powdering of chromium oxide 0.01 micron jewelers polishing powder on the loaded one. That is equal to 200,000 grit.