Thread: Suehiro Gokomyu 20K Waterstone

Originally Posted by bobski

Now gents, a month or so down the track, I just wanted some feedback from those who feel they are getting the most out of the stone, reaching it's potential. I have found a couple of things I'd seek some words of wisdom for. The first thing is pressure. I've watched a video by hibudgl doing two lots of six strokes revealing swarf marks. My question is pressure. I've always been told/found less is better. If per se I was wanting to touch up a Dovo Bismarck and I felt it had just gotten a bit dull, needing a touch up. Assuming I'd go straight to the 20k, what sort of stroke number 'should' I be looking at and the corresponding pressure. It is a different stone to the naniwa finisher, is there a different approach. The scratch pattern should be fairly low from the 12k so what is appropriate, given the jump? Cheers friends.

You can take anything that Sham (hibudgl) has to say about honing to the bank when it comes to honing...very few in the world can match his knowledge and application of stones and honing.

The 20K is amazing in how it can eliminate scratch patterns of a low grit stone like a 1K or 4K. If you are young in the game of honing, I truly recommend getting some sort of magnification even if it's the Radio Shack lighted microscope, this way you can see what we are talking about. Keep in mind though, you aren't seeing the actual cutting edge.

To directly answer your question, I personally use my Shapton 16K or GuK20K for my touch-ups. If my razor seems to be lacking a little during the shave, before I strop it to put it away I will give it 10-12x on either of those stones & strop 100x. I then shave with it the following day and if the edge is still lacking a bit...I will give it another 10-12x on the stones. If one won't come in in about 3 tries, I normally set it in the "to be honed cup" as it needs the bevel set on 1K.

Thanks Shooter,

Your advice is treasured, especially when it comes to the views of Sham (hibudgl). I am lucky in the sense of, having numerous lovely razors (Collection is now 20!) And possessing a solid selection of synthetic hones up to the Gok 20k. I've been at it, (Honing for 2 1/2 years) and I don't mind saying, every razor/session/stone is a learning experience. I accept without question that honing in itself is a skill that time and experience only, can achieve. I have a radio shack led magnifier, and in irony I am waiting on a veho type 200x led microscope so I can look at my mistakes and hopefully successes. Once again thanks for you your insightful advice. Cheers

Bob

Shooter,
I took your advice re magnifying things, buying the cheap but effective veho 400x scope. After mucking around with it, got some decent results in seeing what happens to the side of the bevel re removing the previous scratch patterns. It gives some perspective to honing, bearing in mind the views are of the face of the razor, but a straight edge is great, especially when you see what is a small nick in the edge look enormous. I do now see your point re the Gok 20, and as Sham put it, it's a fine powerful stone. Thank you for taking my honing experience to a higher level.

Cheers Bob.

That sir is what we are here for & you are welcome Bob. Sham taught me years ago, never asked a thing from me.

Out of respect for our teachers, it's up to us to pass on our experiences and help make someone's journey as good or better than our journey was.

THAT is what makes this a better world...pass on your experience when the time is right.

Re the Suehiro Gokumyo range. (10k, 15k, 20k).

After some consideration, it's been bought to me that the particle size of the SG series, lends itself to a different grit rating, ie: the 20k is .50 micron (Shapton Glass 30k is .49)
The 15k SG is .75 micron . Shapton 16k is .92 micron, SG 10k is 1 micron, the shapton glass 10k is 1.74 micron).
This doesn't change the excellence of the series, it just outlines how each stone might sit in anyone's progression. Of most interest to me is the 10k SG at 1 micron vs. the Shapton Glass 10k at 1.74. I guess they both can't be 1 micron or can they?

You could for all intents and purposes, use the Shapton 10k as the pre-finisher to the SG 10k which in fact, particle size wise is a 15k stone.....food for thought.

Cheers Bob

Originally Posted by bobski

Re the Suehiro Gokumyo range. (10k, 15k, 20k).

After some consideration, it's been bought to me that the particle size of the SG series, lends itself to a different grit rating, ie: the 20k is .50 micron (Shapton Glass 30k is .49)
The 15k SG is .75 micron . Shapton 16k is .92 micron, SG 10k is 1 micron, the shapton glass 10k is 1.74 micron).
This doesn't change the excellence of the series, it just outlines how each stone might sit in anyone's progression. Of most interest to me is the 10k SG at 1 micron vs. the Shapton Glass 10k at 1.74.

I guess they both can't be 1 micron or can they?
Well that depends on the measuring system & that's why its simpler to stick with a progression from one maker.

You could for all intents and purposes, use the Shapton 10k as the pre-finisher to the SG 10k which in fact, particle size wise is a 15k stone.....food for thought.

Again, if they are measured the same way, have the same friability, abrasive & binder proportion, Xtal shape & maybe other factors I can't remember this early in the a.m.

Cheers Bob

Moved to hones forum

[QUOTE=onimaru55;1614711]Moved to hones forum[/QUOTE


Thanks Oz, that clarifies a few things. I have in recent times tried to simplify my hones. I now use Naniwa (1k Chosera, 2k superstone, 4k deluxe lobster,8k superstone, then the Suehiro 10k through to 20k. I also have several stones I have collected that don't add anything to my progression. The exception is the select grade coticule, but to be honest I'm a learner on this stone. So I guess sticking with the naniwa's up to 8k level, gives me the option of finishing with the Suehiro's or the natural stone. This forum has been a great source of 'sensible' information.
Regards Bob

That is a nice progression. The 1k to 2k progression, many would say you don’t need, but the 2k does remove deep 1k stria nicely. For many this may be just the ticket to ensure a fully set bevel without deep stria.

I have been using a 2k in place of a 1k, for all but razors that need a lot of edge repair. I have also used the 2k post 1k and find that not much time on the 2k is needed.

The 4k will easily remove 2k stria and quickly leave a nice polish.

So as long as the progression is working for you, I see nothing wrong with it. I usually go to a natural finish post 12k super stone, but an 8k works just fine, 12k is probably a bit redundant.

Hello everyone!

I got HAD once again, after some years of not buying any hones. This time I bought a Chosera 10k, and a Gok 20k, this way I have a full chosera progression: 400-1000-5000-10000 and the Gok to finish.

I have been playing with this combination for a few days now, and I thought that I should share my findings. First off the 10k Chosera is the best synth 8k+ hone of those I have owned (Shapton 12k pro, 16k glass, Nani SS 10k, 12k, Sigma 13k), and I am really happy with it so far. After the 10k Cho you need really few laps on the 20k Gok to remove the scratches. The progress is so natural and easy, that it feels like the Gok is part of the Chosera progression. Some people said that I would need the 15k Gok in between, but it is totally unneccessary. This stone is so darn fast, that I was amazed how fast it polished up a bevel with light finishing strokes.

The initial lapping was slow, but the stone doesn't warp (which I hated in the nanis), and really needs only a spray of water before use.
And the edge it leaves, wowza. Easiest "Jnat level" edge of all times, for me at least It was on par with the best Jnat edges I could achieve (sub 300$ Jnats), much faster, and much more consistent. I am sure that this edge isn't the best there is, but I am sure that there are really few stones under this price range which can perform better than this one.

The shaves from this stone were really sharp and smooth from the first try, and it was really easy to dial the edges in, no pastes were used. I am really happy with this purchase, maybe only my 1k and 5k Choseras were the only stones which worked this well from the first try. Best synthetic edge so far I have tried.

I won't stop trying out japanese naturals, because they are fun to use, are beautiful, and have their own soul. But it will be hard to find something that comes close to this one in the ease of use, speed, and final edge sharpness, smoothness.

Originally Posted by jeness

Hello everyone!

I got HAD once again, after some years of not buying any hones. This time I bought a Chosera 10k, and a Gok 20k, this way I have a full chosera progression: 400-1000-5000-10000 and the Gok to finish.

I have been playing with this combination for a few days now, and I thought that I should share my findings. First off the 10k Chosera is the best synth 8k+ hone of those I have owned (Shapton 12k pro, 16k glass, Nani SS 10k, 12k, Sigma 13k), and I am really happy with it so far. After the 10k Cho you need really few laps on the 20k Gok to remove the scratches. The progress is so natural and easy, that it feels like the Gok is part of the Chosera progression. Some people said that I would need the 15k Gok in between, but it is totally unneccessary. This stone is so darn fast, that I was amazed how fast it polished up a bevel with light finishing strokes.

The initial lapping was slow, but the stone doesn't warp (which I hated in the nanis), and really needs only a spray of water before use.
And the edge it leaves, wowza. Easiest "Jnat level" edge of all times, for me at least It was on par with the best Jnat edges I could achieve (sub 300$ Jnats), much faster, and much more consistent. I am sure that this edge isn't the best there is, but I am sure that there are really few stones under this price range which can perform better than this one.

The shaves from this stone were really sharp and smooth from the first try, and it was really easy to dial the edges in, no pastes were used. I am really happy with this purchase, maybe only my 1k and 5k Choseras were the only stones which worked this well from the first try. Best synthetic edge so far I have tried.

I won't stop trying out japanese naturals, because they are fun to use, are beautiful, and have their own soul. But it will be hard to find something that comes close to this one in the ease of use, speed, and final edge sharpness, smoothness.

Totally agree on all points, but the 10k Chosera since I do not have it yet.