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?!

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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You would do well to have Neil as your "goombah".

My first natural was a Zulu grey and I had Shapton 16k glass along with the 4 & 8k with a Chosera 1k. I still do. My best edges of the Zulu came after the 16k SG then the Zulu with very light slury to water. Sometimes I lost some sharpness and others I didn't. But the comfort level always was more appealing to my than the 16k with paste.

After many moons I started to get as good an edge on the Zulu by going from 8 k to the Zulu with slury and dressing the stone with higher grit natural like a turi or Atoma 1200 laping stone. In other words, my honing got better and I feel confident going from 8 k to Zulu and feel the edge is very similar to an edge that was done on the 16k and then Zulu.

Either way you do it, I feel you get quicker to a very nice natural edge using the 16k before the Zulu.

By the way, the SG16K and the SS12k have very similar particles size. Don't remember the number but some one can come with the facts easier than me at this time (handicap with slow wifi).