Thread: Norton 8k vs chosera 10k.

Im in a bit of a discussion about the N8 and chosera 10. I find the Norton delivers a better shaving edge at 8k than the chosera does at 10k. No science involved but that's my take. I consider the chosera 10k more of a pre finisher as opposed to the 8k as a finisher if that makes sense. . WHats your take on this? Thanks.

I haven't got a chosera but I do prefer the shave off my n8K to my sigma 10K or 13K. They just are not smooth shaves. I have always chocked it up to I just haven't been able to figure out how to get a smooth shave off of those hones. I am going to relegate them to woodworking edges as my rock pile keeps growing and I have better fish to fry or other stones to learn. I tried, I did not find my happy edge and I am moving on. Perhaps to smoother shaves. Maybe I just like an 8K edge. I continue to chase the perfect edge...

I have no experience with either stone: Norton or Chosera, but as far as I'm aware the difference in sharpness and polish between 8k and 10k is very minor. How you hone, the razor itself and the character of the stones are all arguably much larger variables which will have a far greater influence on the quality of your shave than the material difference between an 8k and 10k finish. So it could simply be the stones and the razor. In which case you might find your Chosera will be better for other razors. On the other hand it could be down to how you're honing with it, or a combination of the two. In which case practice with the Chosera may help.

Bill I agree, the 1-5-10 Chosera system is fast and accurate as all get out, but I still would rather shave off of either the Norton 8k or the Naniwa SS 8k even the Shapton 8k ...
The Chosera 1-5-10 into any finisher rocks and I am very happy with the setup but not alone takes to much effort to tweak in the Chosera 10k for shaving...

Originally Posted by dadsavage

...the difference in sharpness and polish between 8k and 10k is very minor.

Depends whose 8k and whose 10k you're talking about - there are huge differences between different makers.

Yes that is true, but I was speaking about two specific hones. I have used both and was looking for feedback from users who have also. I'm glad I didn't hear about grits and microns! Just the shave test(the only one that counts). Thanks again for your replies.

Here is an old thread from '09 with a review by English, who used to be an active member here. He first bought the Chosera 10k in '08 and raved about it. By '09 he had chilled out a bit and within a month or two of this review he put it up in the BST (buy-sell-trade, the forerunner of our current classifieds)

Both English and the Bartmeister posted about the 10k with enthusiasm to start with, but found the edges too "crisp" when it came to the shave, and both sold their 10ks. I held off getting all but the renowned bevel setter, the chosera 1k, because the higher grit choseras are so doggone expensive.

Once I had the 20k gomokyo (or however you spell it ) I drank the kool aid and added the 3k, 5k and 10k chosera. I work with these based on the Japanese grit chart whether it is right, wrong, or indifferent. Therefore, as far as I'm concerned the 5k is the equivalent of the norton 8k. I've shaved off of that and feel it is similar if not the same.

I have only shaved off of the 10k a couple of times, without going on to the 20k, and I approached that with some trepidation, based on the aforementioned opinions of English and Bart. In my case the shaves weren't bad. IOW, not too crisp. I will say that I would need to shave off the 10k many more times, with various razors, before I would give a firm opinion. One or two shaves doesn't really prove much.

Depends whose 8k and whose 10k you're talking about

In this context: Norton and Chosera.

Originally Posted by bill3152

Im in a bit of a discussion about the N8 and chosera 10. I find the Norton delivers a better shaving edge at 8k than the chosera does at 10k. No science involved but that's my take. .

Originally Posted by dadsavage

I have no experience with either stone: Norton or Chosera, but as far as I'm aware the difference in sharpness and polish between 8k and 10k is very minor. In which case practice with the Chosera may help.

Originally Posted by dadsavage

In this context: Norton and Chosera.

In this context your assumption about the two hones would be wrong, Bill was rather specific on his question and summation, the "Science" about Polish, Grit, and Sharpness, are obvious, but ultimately sooner or later you have to shave the edge...

I'm not sure what you're saying. I'm saying there's four variables: Chosera, Norton, Bill and the razor, and that in this case Bill and his razor are bigger variables than the difference between the Chosera and Norton. Ergo even if the Chosera is ostensibly 'better,' than the Norton don't be surprised if the Norton a provides superior results. It may simply be a better match for the razor and Bill's technique may be allowing him to get more out of it, but with a different razor or technique the Chosera may be able to deliver more than he is currently getting from it. Whether or not it can deliver more than the Norton, or enough to justify the time invested in it I have no idea. However I'm assuming that as a finer hone if he manages to get it to deliver everything it can on a suitable razor than he should get a slightly improved edge and polish vs. the Norton. That improved edge and polish might allow for a better shave, I don't know.

Is that wrong?