I'm looking for a good finishing hone and I would like to ask members what they would suggest, and why? All info. is welcome and appreciated !!
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I'm looking for a good finishing hone and I would like to ask members what they would suggest, and why? All info. is welcome and appreciated !!
What kind of experience do you have honing?
What is your set up so far?
In general my recommendation will be Suehiro Gokumyo 20k
That is a crazy rabbit hole. There are many ways on that. I have a few that I like. Of course my favorites are ones that I have harvested in the wild and finished. I do have a french hone that is fast and leaves a great shaving edge. I have a Barbers Gem that also does a once job, but not nearly as fast as the french hone. I also have a couple of coti's. One is way faster than the other but are both slow compared to the Escher and the french hone. All leave a smooth edge, which is after all their job. I have and have tried some others that were either too slow or I didn't like the edge.
A hard jnat with diamond plate slurry can get you a great edge.
I would not recommend Jnats or other natural to beginners at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by bill3152
And the 20k Suehiro is on par or better anyway.
There are so many out there Walter,,,I would stick with something quite predictable to begin with, A Naniwa 12K,,so they say,,a Shapton 16k.
I would pass for a while, until you have honed a little more, on the PHIG, Zulu or Jnats. JMO.
I have been honing my razors for about 3 months, my set up so far is 1,4,&8k nortons,and 12k SS.Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
Naniwa 12k .. Cheap end some lapping film.. Suehiro 20k ..
That 12k should finish quite well,,,,,,:shrug:
Hey Waterbowens!! I think you have been given great recommendations!! But I am with Hirlau 100% here... though it doesn't help the HAD :) .Quote:
Originally Posted by Hirlau
Not to discount your need but you should be getting great shaves off the 12k! Fantastic even! If not, its my opinion that its too soon to get more of a finisher than the 12k. I say that only because if your not getting great shaves off the 12k, a stone above it will not work and the frustration will mount.
That was my experience anyway. I am ashamed to say it, but I think it took me like two years to really get the most out of my synthetics. Lol, maybe in two more years I'll be saying it took four lol! Who knows :).
That said, if your 12k is giving you edges that are so good that perhaps you feel that some experimenting seems like fun because who cares if I get better than I am now as I am getting awesome now, I would stay go synthetic.
Good luck and remember, Lynn, the guy who started this forum and countless others shaved off an 8k for years before they found higher grits lol! Not long ago that 12k of yours was a "wonder hone" lol!!
Oh the joy!
I don't own one, yet, but a lot of guys here swear by them as a finisher.
Thanks for the info. I am getting very good shaves of the 12k ss. I was just wanted past it just to see how good, good could be.Quote:
Originally Posted by earcutter
Sounds like you are good to go then!! Good luck! Keep us informed! Would love to hear the progression!Quote:
Originally Posted by Walterbowens
yes and the progression of the HAD as well. Always curious
You could always have your razors honed by someone who has different finishers and see which you like best before you drop a dime on one. Or you could just go for it...
The Naniwa will offer consistency, but then again I think they all offer some consistency once you know what to expect.
If it were me and I had to do it again right now, with what I know (not much) I would get a Yellow Coticule and be completely happy. I 've never had an issue to date with mine
I've ran into razors that didn't do well on the PHIG and have all ready ran into one razor that didn't work well on the ZG. I always get a nice edge off my Yellow Coticule it seems no matter the razor.
Really? Seems a bit pricey for a first finisher. Or any finisher, for that matter.Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
How about a balsa hone with chromium oxide? It works really well.
N.B.: I'm serious, this is in no way meant as a snide remark.
And about slow finishing coticules: any coticule I tried needed maybe 50 X-strokes max. for finishing on water. I'm talking about the very final finish, of course.
+1 to this. The Suehiro Gokumyo 20k is my go to finisher in conjunction with the Shapton GS hones. I use it almost exclusively now.Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
It is a bit pricey, but worth it IMHO. When compared to many of the Jnats, Eschers, etc...It's cheap.
It gives consistent results, and it's easy to use. No variables like you have with many of the naturals.
I don't think the OP mentioned on the cheap, budget or his experience. All this needs to be considered.
Pretty much any paste or spray would work as a final finisher.
Ha! My wife has an expression that used to drive me batty but I have come to respect - I believe applys here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pithor
"Its all about the definition."
Some would say crox is for maintaing a blade - not a finishing stone. But I guess you could say a 20k was something you could use to maintain a blade too.... And some like you say crox is the final step and consider it he final progression of the honing process.
Tomato, tomato... Lol!!
Not bad pricey, good sized stones, and ive heard a ton of good feedback on them....also zulu grey seems to be nothing but good feedback.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FREE-SHIPPIN...-/180890875308
WalterQuote:
Originally Posted by Walterbowens
I would suggest that if possible you meet up with a fellow from the site here and sit down and hone some razors on his stones. I am partial to natural stones, favor Jnats, but there are so many options in cyberspace, hands-on testing cuts through the cheese.
hope this helps,
Alx
Alx
I'm a honing novice, but my PHIG has served me well and I get an excellent edge that provides a comfortable shave for a VERY affordable price.
Sandycrack
You have a nice progression that should leave a very shaveable edge.
From the 12K, I would go to paste or film. Chrome Oxide and CBN .50 and .125 post 12k will give you a smooth, keen edge as well.
Post 12k finishing stones, is as said a “rabbit hole” and there are many opinions and stones to choose from.
I would try paste first, then as said experiment with other honed edges from mentors before purchasing… or start a new hobby… like many of us chasing our tails.
Interesting
Last time I checked the Naniwa SS 12k was a finisher :shrug:
All the stones and hones already mentioned will give a slightly different feel to the edges, my suggestion,,, I would read my sig line very carefully :p
Since you have the Naniwa then I would say head Natural next for a stone but I would not "Add" it to the progression I would subtract the 12k and put the natural in it's place..
Another test for honing is to subtract the 12k now and see how well the edge is that you get from the Norton 8k :shrug:
Remember they is only so much steel at the edge of a razor, after the 8k you are in the sub-micron realm already, you keep adding more stuff after and pretty soon all you are doing is creating a fragile edge...