Thread: SG 16k or ZG

Any ideas on this, would you use the SG 16k before the Zulu Grey or after? Or would you just use one as a finisher from the SS 12k?

I just use my Zulu after the 12k and it works perfect for me. A Zulu, like any natural can be different from one to the next. I don't have any SGs but I would bet they are very close to the same thing. The shape of the grit may make a difference but let's see what somebody who has tried it out says. If you have both that somebody could be you :<0)

From the Naniwa 12k to the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k also works well.

The Zulu often requires 100+ strokes whereas the Gokumyo 20k generally needs in the neighborhood of 30 strokes.

If you have a Zulu, use it. If you have a Gokumyo 20k, use it.

If you have both stones, make your own comparison. They both work well.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I just use my Zulu after the 12k and it works perfect for me. A Zulu, like any natural can be different from one to the next. I don't have any SGs but I would bet they are very close to the same thing. The shape of the grit may make a difference but let's see what somebody who has tried it out says. If you have both that somebody could be you :<0)

I do have both but not sure which way round is best the Shapton feels as though it's polishing faster where as the ZG feels slightly smoother and not as grippy. I can't see much difference through a loupe. I'm hoping someone has honed more razors than me with either stone as I'd value different opinions.

As far as I am concerned, the ZG makes the edge left by the SG16k less 'sharp' and more 'smooth', though there is very little in it. It feels to me that by the third lot of shaving/stropping any edginess left by the 16k is ameliorated anyway, so beyond experimentation I never kept the exercise up.

FWIW if I want to get a smoother finish (usually I finish on the SG20k, so the next step is redundant, anyway) some 10-20 laps or so on CBN does the job very effectively.

BUT - if you dont have the wonga for all these super-hones, then a good old naniwa 12k is a good bet - it does all the above (mostly) on its own...

Regards,
Neil

Neil Miller said: wonga, please define. I can put in two possibilities, one monetary one anatomical.......what mean Kimosabe?

Originally Posted by WW243

Neil Miller said: wonga, please define. I can put in two possibilities, one monetary one anatomical.......what mean Kimosabe?

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Savvy, Kimosabe?!

Otherwise known as "jack".

Not to be confused with "the jack", as described by AC/DC

AS far as the stones go, personally I'd use the synthetics for setting up razors and the naturals for maintaining them. Unless you don't care about the particular razor too much. There is some satisfaction that comes with shaving 500 times with a razor and seeing no visible wear.

I much prefer a fine natural and a single (tomo)nagura to fine synthetics, but my tune would probably be different were I honing for pay.

With good leather and a good linen, the stone can literally be a place you take a razor once every 6 months, and without any compromise in sharpness (you may find that the sharpness drops with a honing). With a bad linen, that won't be true, though.

Simplicty = Bevel set - Sharpen - Polish - Finish

Never been a fan of the Bevel - Sharpen - Finish, Finish, Finish, Finish, school of honing, have always figured there is only so much steel in that less then 1/2 Micron edge

Having been through a lot of synthetic and natural stones I like the fact that we can experiment. Trying this and that combination to find what we like best. Whether it is one or another, just fooling with them and seeing where we end up. IME that is one of the really enjoyable aspects of honing your own. In general I have ended up liking the edges I get from the Escher or the 20k Suehiro. Sometimes I'm more in the mood for a coticule edge. I don't have a ZG nor any J-nats, but trying different edges on what I do have is interesting and while they all end up similarly, they do vary somewhat. Like Glen said, I found that finsihing can be too much of a good thing if carried to the extreme. YMMV.