Thread: Feeling 8k - 10k Naniwa Super S.

Hello,
What is your opinion - will I feel a difference between a 8k or 10k finished edge on the face?
And same question for 10k / 12k (Naniwa SS)
Regards
Hajo

A talented honer could achieve with an 8k, what a not so talented (like me) could achieve with a 12k. In my own honing regimen, I test shave at the 8k. When the 8k gives a good shave, I then proceed to finish with the 12k, and yes, I can feel a difference. Whew, that was a long winded answer when I could have just said "yes".

I am not a professional but I believe that a 12k will give a more comfortable shave in the end. The better the polish on the razor the more comfortable it will be. But like Wayne said, a talented honer may be able to use a 8k and polish the edge just fine.
I always say, practice makes better.

The difference between and 8 and 10 is marginal. The difference between an 8 and a 12 would be noticeable.

If you are looking at getting a set, i would get the 8k for now as this would make more sense to get the 12k later on, after you have mastered the 8k.. If you already had the 10k i wouldn't bother going to a 12k and would be looking at a 15-16k or just stropping with a paste after the 10k

From 8-10k and from 10-12K, I personally couldn't tell the difference. From 8-12K I can. When you talk about different stone mfg's, each has their own "grit" rating, so you can't necessarily go by it. My point is that a Naniwa SS 12K and Shapton GS 16K can't be told apart by most folks on the shaving end/the face...but each works well as a finisher.

I don't have a Naniwa 8K (I'm using a Kitayama) but I do have both the 10K and 12K super stones. To me the 10K and 12K are two very different beasts... The 10K is a fantastic polisher, delivering a true mirror-polish. But shaves directly off the 10K are often quite harsh (at least for my face). The 12K however leaves some fine but clear scratch marks on a 10K-polished surface. Nevertheless, I find the shaves off the 12K fantastic, very close and comfortable. I have some high-end natural finishers (vintage thuringians, coticules, Nakayama Maruka, Oozuku...) but the 12K-finish can keep up with them in terms of a comfortable and close shave !

Cheers
Jörg

Originally Posted by shooter74743

From 8-10k and from 10-12K, I personally couldn't tell the difference. From 8-12K I can. When you talk about different stone mfg's, each has their own "grit" rating, so you can't necessarily go by it. My point is that a Naniwa SS 12K and Shapton GS 16K can't be told apart by most folks on the shaving end/the face...but each works well as a finisher.

True, it's also the old confusion about different grit rating (e.g. JIS and mesh). The Naniwa SS 12K (JIS) should have around the same particle size as the Shapton Glass Stone 16K (mesh) and indeed they both are very good finishers!

In the end, grit rating and polished bevels are not the sole criterion for a good shaving edge ...

Cheers
Jörg