Thread: Abrasive Grit Comparison Sheet

Originally Posted by gssixgun

OK let me see if I have this correct here,,,,

My GS 8k is a way higher grit then my Norton 8k????

My GS 4k is too high a grit to sharpen a razor I have to drop to my GS 2k????

My Norton 8k is almost the same as shaving off my GS 4k????

Did I sum that up correctly????

OK unfortunately this GS is calling BS at this point in time...

oh wait I found the line I was looking for in the small print....

It is impossible to make

exact comparisons between all the different abrasives because different standards are used for average, minimum and maximum size, the percentage allowed outside

those limits, and the distribution of sizes within those limits, but this list is the closest comparison available since all entries are compared to microns by their respective manufacturers.


Don't forget the how does it feel factor here, Shaving is what really separates the men from the boys so to speak when it come to honing..
This also does not take into account the tricks of the trade...

I am really just having a very hard time swallowing that a Norton 8k is closer to a GS 4k then a GS 8k
I guess I am going to have to try a shave off the GS 4k... I will post back soonest....if it shaves anywhere near as good as a Norton 8k I will stand corrected....

Update:

Ya know I was going to do a ton of writing at this point...
Lets just say I did some testing, and I'll just say that you should too....
Your face can be the judge....

I have used the Naniwa super stones with a 3/5 pyramid and shave tested. The results appear to me to be equal to a Norton 4/8. I have done this with two ebay razors so far. I have further refined the edge with the 8k and gotten a slightly smoother somewhat keener edge. This is with the Naniwa superstones.

Ron has my Shapton pros and is going to try pyramiding the 2/5 (they don't make a 3k). So if my suspicion is correct with the pros the 2/5 will yield similar results. I know that with the pros when I set a bevel on the 1k I used to really like to follow with the 2k. I really liked the performance and feel of the 2k.

Following that I would do pyramids on the 5/8 and it seemed to take longer than it would have with the Nortons. Had I been using the 2/5 instead I think I would have been pleased with the results. I think that would have been the way to go with those based on the grit charts.

Whatever the label is on a hone be it 4k or 8k the size of the microns would determine the performance ....... wouldn't it ? I know Tom (jendeindustries) mentioned the shape having an impact and I am sure that it does. All we can do is try them and see what works. I am completely open minded to that.

Well, I just got off the phone with Hirohisa Ogawa at Naniwa (Lynn and Don, if you read this, he sends his regards) and he sent me an information sheet about their standards for abrasive size (specifically for silicon wafer cutting--an odd coincidence, as I work at a company that does just that). It would appear that they use the standard JIS regulations. He said that this is the same for all their products, including the Super Stones, so I guess there it is.

Originally Posted by JimR

Well, I just got off the phone with Hirohisa Ogawa at Naniwa (Lynn and Don, if you read this, he sends his regards) and he sent me an information sheet about their standards for abrasive size (specifically for silicon wafer cutting--an odd coincidence, as I work at a company that does just that). It would appear that they use the standard JIS regulations. He said that this is the same for all their products, including the Super Stones, so I guess there it is.

Great! Thanks for posting that as it confirms the figures I'd posted earlier.

Wonder what stones Naniwa uses green carbide in besides the green lobster 120 grit?

Originally Posted by yuzuha

Great! Thanks for posting that as it confirms the figures I'd posted earlier.

Wonder what stones Naniwa uses green carbide in besides the green lobster 120 grit?

That's an interesting question, as they list it up to 8K... I'm still in contact with him (trying to get some samples of the Silicon cutting slurry to see if it might be any good for anything) so I'll ask him.

What I wonder is, if they use WA for most of their hones (regular stones, Supers and Cho-Cera), then the binder must make the big difference, right? So, WHY does it make so much difference?

JimR - I can't tell you how much I appreciate you posting that sheet!

That not only confirms the JIS variance information, but it also tells us that all Naniwa Stones and powders will rate those levels with those variances....Great info!

I have added that sheet to my list and also a couple other minor additions to help clarify a couple things....like how a micron compares to an inch (I had wondered about that and decided I ought to add it)

Christopher you are the bomb man ! You have no idea how much I appreciate your chart. I already thanked JimR for adding that important piece of the puzzle.