Hones that are clay based v Resin based.
After being a naniwa only hone user I felt that my finisher the 10k was a hard stone. I've conferred on this site with Onimaru55, who kindly offered me his personal assessment, but I'm a stubborn bloke and I made a change from the resin 10k naniwa, to what most say is a duplication, by getting myself an Ice Bear (King), clay based 10k stone, that came with the nagura stone. I found it to be a softer stone with a lovely glide, especially after creating a slurry with the nagura stone. Am I right or nuts? The way I see it is if I get a good result then I'm happy. The Ice Bear is 205 x 75 x 25, an ample size for our razors and is very expensive. I rarely see it appear on the forums, except one video of Gssixgun who when doing a VIDEO of naniwa progression set his bevel with a King, by-passing, the naniwa.. Anyway, if you try a king..clay based stone you may find it a good stone, when you aren't a pro. It's less hardness is good for when you are learning. I accept the advice given and I am thankful for it. But me being me I felt the clay based stone was worth a go. I already had a king 1k/6k clay stone, and always ended up in good shape before I manage to dull it on a very hard 10k. The big lesson I have now learned is that, ,the stone (Ice Bear) is luxurious, large and smooth to use. But, my problem has always been too much pressure. Using a slick slurry created by the nagura, has allowed me to comfortably touch up, and believe me I've shaved off the G & F !!! This whole sport/hobby is so rewarding when you get it totally right. Keep reading, one day I will have done it! The ice bear stone is mounted on a wooden base, it is a really lovely bit of kit.
Poly webbing on the back of strops.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DaveW
As far as the clay vs. resin, this micron vs. that micron, dry, soaked, clear, slurried, etc. All of that stuff is somewhat personal preference. The rubber hits the road on all of those stones if the razor you're using takes unexplained damage off of the finish stone before you can get to the chrome ox, that's a real problem. Or to me is *the* real problem in honing. The only stone that I've ever seen be completely immune from damage comments is the gokumyo 20k, a stone I'd love to have but have no need for.
The next step after you have a reliable setup is to get a good vintage linen, which literally will keep you away from hones for months, maybe up to a year if you get a good razor, strop, linen setup. I take my main shaver back to the stones about every 6 months, and if I work the razor all the way to the edge on a vintage japanese barber hone, it is duller than where the linen kept it. For maintenance, I am sure we are much harder on a razor than a barber would've been - I used to hone every 2-3 weeks, but once you get a few rare and valuable razors, you might get a bend in your brain where you want them to be blindingly sharp, but not at the cost of abrading them away.
That's what a good linen is good for. If the linen doesn't improve a chrome ox edge over a period of a few weeks, it's not a good linen.
As far as the clay binder stones go, my favorite is the kitayama 8k stone, but it may be a bit coarse for a razor. It's an imanishi product, is still fairly soft, but is a bit finer and denser than stuff like a king 8k.
Thanks a lot Dave, mate honing is a developing art, and I'm the 1st to admit my issues with types of stones is a technique deficit, it's not a fast learning curve. My question for you is the 'Linen' you use. I bought a few strops so far and the 2nd strop on the back of a 3 inch latigo is quite tough, known as poly webbing. I have another 3 inch strop, that the 2nd strop is felt. I like it the best, the workmanship of the synthetic being outstanding, but I hear you re the linen. I have listened and tried to absorb as many opinions as possible, eg Murray Carter, Taping spines, back honing. Lynn Abrams doesn't use tape Gssixgun does. No one is right or wrong, these are personal choices There are many who swear by 'their' way. I tend to pick the bones out of the info and integrate it into getting a good shave for me. I am really happy with the stones I have now, like you I'd like the Gokumyo 20 k, but you point out correctly, there are 'wants' and 'needs'. I really like cheap balsa blocks, 3" x 3" covered in Crox mixed with mineral oil. I looked at Dr Matt's nanocloth, made my own version, and so the journey continues. Today I had a shave with a Dovo 6/8 Bismarck, re-touched with my new finishing ways. Lovely shave. Sometimes I think we look at 'sharp' as some holy grail. Hanging hair tests I don't do, I see if it feels sharp with my thumb pad. If it grabs I shave with it. As I said, mate your views on linen (cotton as I know it) vs the fad of new strops whose 2nd side is 'poly' is most welcome.
Cheers Bob
