Thread: Finishing Hone?

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.

Originally Posted by bill3152

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.
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.

Originally Posted by mainaman

What kind of experience do you have honing?
What is your set up so far?

In general my recommendation will be Suehiro Gokumyo 20k

I have been honing my razors for about 3 months, my set up so far is 1,4,&8k nortons,and 12k SS.

Naniwa 12k .. Cheap end some lapping film.. Suehiro 20k ..

That 12k should finish quite well,,,,,,

Originally Posted by Hirlau

That 12k should finish quite well,,,,,,

Hey Waterbowens!! I think you have been given great recommendations!! But I am with Hirlau 100% here... though it doesn't help the HAD .

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!