Thread: Can't make up my mind

I have a few that I have restored that I use everyday. I started with antique razors because I love the nostalgia of using them and love the way they shave. There's just something about buying a brand new razor and being the first person in its history that uses it and not just the person who brings it back to life. Ideally I want my rotation to eventually consist of a new one, a custom, and a few antiques which includes a big old wedge. That will take time but if I could have exactly what I want that's what it would look like.

Originally Posted by TonyFranklin

I have a few that I have restored that I use everyday. I started with antique razors because I love the nostalgia of using them and love the way they shave. There's just something about buying a brand new razor and being the first person in its history that uses it and not just the person who brings it back to life. Ideally I want my rotation to eventually consist of a new one, a custom, and a few antiques which includes a big old wedge. That will take time but if I could have exactly what I want that's what it would look like.

That's kind of funny. I started off thinking I only wanted all new. Somehow, after my first used, I kind of flipped and romanticized the notion of recycling and the mystique of the poor sap(s) who used it before.

Its a journey! To be honest, I am surprised where it's lead me.

Originally Posted by earcutter

To be honest, I am surprised where it's lead me.

I second that emotion.........

[QUOTE=TonyFranklin;1328590] I just couldn't decide if I really needed the 16k. I have been finishing with a 12k but the 16k is really appealing. [QUOTE]

IIRC I thought I read here somewhile ago that the Shapton 16k glass is a similar or courser finisher than the Naniwa SS 12K?
just food for thought for $300 you could probably pick up an Escher / Thungerian?

[QUOTE=Substance;1328632][QUOTE=TonyFranklin;1328590] I just couldn't decide if I really needed the 16k. I have been finishing with a 12k but the 16k is really appealing.

IIRC I thought I read here somewhile ago that the Shapton 16k glass is a similar or courser finisher than the Naniwa SS 12K?
just food for thought for $300 you could probably pick up an Escher / Thungerian?

Or one of those 20k stones!!

Suehiro Gokumyo #20000 grit (@ 0.5 µm). : Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.

Want lol!

If that's the case I may pass on the 16k. That's a shame because I would expect more for Shapton. The 30k is around $350! The 30k seemed like extreme overkill but the 16k seemed like a great finishing stone. Its 130 @ SRD if I'm not mistaken. Currently I just have a cheap 12k from Woodcraft. It does the job fine but it takes forever to get the finish I want before I go to sprays or a crayon. I only paid $30 and some change including shipping for it and it is definitely an example of you get what you pay for. I don't plan on spending the whole $300 on just the stone. I have a few other things I need and the 16k seemed like a good way to go for a finishing stone because of Shapton's reputation. I can't see it being worse than my current stone because it is twice as wide. If I'm paying for the same finish I'd rather keep the one I have and spend the extra time.

Originally Posted by TonyFranklin

If that's the case I may pass on the 16k. That's a shame because I would expect more for Shapton. The 30k is around $350! The 30k seemed like extreme overkill but the 16k seemed like a great finishing stone. Its 130 @ SRD if I'm not mistaken. Currently I just have a cheap 12k from Woodcraft. It does the job fine but it takes forever to get the finish I want before I go to sprays or a crayon. I only paid $30 and some change including shipping for it and it is definitely an example of you get what you pay for. I don't plan on spending the whole $300 on just the stone. I have a few other things I need and the 16k seemed like a good way to go for a finishing stone because of Shapton's reputation. I can't see it being worse than my current stone because it is twice as wide. If I'm paying for the same finish I'd rather keep the one I have and spend the extra time.

What is your finest synthetic stone?

Honestly I don't know if that 12k water stone I have is synthetic or not. Below that would be my 8k norton. I personally really like my norton 8k. When I first started I was using it as my finishing stone and I used diamond spray but after I got my cheap 12k I realized I was missing out.

Originally Posted by TonyFranklin

Honestly I don't know if that 12k water stone I have is synthetic or not. Below that would be my 8k norton. I personally really like my norton 8k. When I first started I was using it as my finishing stone and I used diamond spray but after I got my cheap 12k I realized I was missing out.

I had a look over at Woodcrafts stock. All I could find was the Phig in 12k:

Buy Natural Water Stone, 8" x 2-3/4" x 1-1/4" at Woodcraft.com

If that indeed is what you have, I would Go back to considering a synthetic finishing stone. Now that's just me, but having a good synthetic to compare against is always a good idea I think. Moreover, I hear not every blade likes the synthetic or natural equally.

Don't rush. Google shapton 16k vs naniwa 12k and see what comes up. Or PHIG vs 12k. I like a variety of finishing stones myself. You might not need it, but the shaves will be somewhat different from the one vs the other.

Again, take your time. Don't spend the money while you are though .

I really like my Shapton 16k, it's great for touch ups and very fast. I'd get the hone...