Thread: Replacing Norton with Naniwa

I have the Norton 4/8 but am debating replacing it with a Naniwa SS 5k and 8k. I already have the nani 1k which I love. Looking at the scratch pattern/polish it seems the Norton 4k is a step down from the nani 1k? I know the two companies don't use the same grit scale, but am I way off base with my assessment? Looking for some opinions from honers more knowledgable than I. Will the nani 1k, 5k, and 8k be reason jumps between stone?

I also think the norton 4k looks and feels courser than the Nani 1k and tends to do more damage to the spine if I don't tape I found
I may also be imagining it. But the feed back feels smoother on the 1k
We can only wait and see what the more experienced honers have to say

I agree with that as well. The feedback from the Norton is harsher. Perhaps from the clay binder.

Keep the norton and get the naniwas. You'll find times when you'll prefer one over the other. Not that one is better, just different. Just IMHO.

I have the both sets and prefer the Chosera 1K, then the Norton 4,8K then the Super stone 12K then a natural finisher.

I like the Chosera for the smoothness and ability to cut a quick straight bevel, The Norton 4,8k for their agressiveness and feel and the 12k for the quick finish on the edge. It really does not matter except for the finisher between the two brands.

Find a 1K you like and a finisher, the middle does not matter.
Really even the 1K does not matter as long as it is capable of setting the bevel.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I have the both sets and prefer the Chosera 1K, then the Norton 4,8K then the Super stone 12K then a natural finisher.

I like the Chosera for the smoothness and ability to cut a quick straight bevel, The Norton 4,8k for their agressiveness and feel and the 12k for the quick finish on the edge. It really does not matter except for the finisher between the two brands.

Find a 1K you like and a finisher, the middle does not matter.
Really even the 1K does not matter as long as it is capable of setting the bevel.

I completely agree with this, I use a €5 hone from the local hardwarestore for heavy corrections and setting an initial bevel, from that point on I switch to a coticule with slurry.

you only feel the finishing hone while shaving, not your progression

This is one time I have to disagree,

Bevel
Sharpen
Polish
Finish

Every step is important to the final edge the only real difference is the amount of time and attention you spend there..
If you do your bevel set correctly then yes you tend to be able breeze through the middle sharpening/polishing stages and therefor tend to think they are not important, but I think you are doing a dis-service to the "Smooth" factor..

To the OP both systems are proved performers so really it comes down to how they "Feel" in your hands and on your razors, many of us feel the Naniwa SS have a more razor friendly touch to the hones as they use a softer binder and it tends to give a smoother feel to the stroke.. Whether that yields a better edge is back to the YMMV side of things

Originally Posted by gssixgun

To the OP both systems are proved performers so really it comes down to how they "Feel" in your hands and on your razors, many of us feel the Naniwa SS have a more razor friendly touch to the hones as they use a softer binder and it tends to give a smoother feel to the stroke.. Whether that yields a better edge is back to the YMMV side of things

Glen is 100% Correct :

So many times I've posted that 99.9% of Everything about straight razors is 'Personal Preference'. For example: an established fellow member (and a friend) used the Naniwa 4 and 8K hones and he complained that the 8K never seemed to stop wanting water and that he found that the edge of the hone chipped very easily. I recommended the Norton 4/8 (which is what I've used since the start) and he really liked it. HOWEVER he felt that the Naniwa gave a 'smoother' feeling when shaving.

Now before this event that same friend (who has spent more money than I can imagine buying and selling Natural rocks searching for one that would work for him) was very 'Leary' when I recommended the Naniwa 12K as a finisher. I finally bought one and had it shipped directly to him. At first he was a bit put out but after giving it a go, he often recommends it and says "It's a real workhorse". With that said, he also still uses the naturals.

It all boils down to what works for you

I believe that Lynn posted quite some time ago that his Norton 4ks perform best after he laps at least 1/8 inch off the top.
I can't remember his exact wording as to why this is the case. Anybody here remember?

Originally Posted by Bram

I completely agree with this, I use a €5 hone from the local hardwarestore for heavy corrections and setting an initial bevel, from that point on I switch to a coticule with slurry.

you only feel the finishing hone while shaving, not your progression

It's a matter about the destination or the journey to get there.

You are probably right that if you do the job properly the final edge is a reflection of the last hone, or may be it is of the strop.
But if you don't have the foundation before that last hone, or if you don't lay it properly you will not be able to get 100% of what that final hone can offer and the roughness from the previous levels of the progression would still be there.

So, to a certain degree it does matter what your bevel setter is and what your polishing progression is.