Thread: Suehiro Gokomyu 20K Waterstone

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.

lI thought i was getting a great edge with my naniwa SS 12K and didn't need paste or another stone. Then a friend showed me the suehiro 20K and what it could do and i too had to have one. I know you'll never be disappointed with it.

Best few hundred bucks that I have spent on hones. I even honed a 5$ Gold Dollar on it, and it gave me a really nice shave, not to speak about my japanese razors, especially my Tanifuji

Best synthetic money can buy I love mine and as you say an extremely fast cutter considering it's a 20K.

I find an edge that's been tuned up on the 20k even more comfortable that second time around than the first. It's super polished and oh so smooth. I just shaved with an edge that was recently touched up on the 20k. Beautiful shave.

Originally Posted by jeness

Best few hundred bucks that I have spent on hones. I even honed a 5$ Gold Dollar on it, and it gave me a really nice shave, not to speak about my japanese razors, especially my Tanifuji

I picked up a gold dollar that was honed on the Gokomyu 20K, best shave I have had so far and I will own an Gok 20K in the future, a must have if you want to get to the nitty Gritty in short order and yes they are an amazing stone, just short of a miracle.

Originally Posted by FAL

I picked up a gold dollar that was honed on the Gokomyu 20K, best shave I have had so far and I will own an Gok 20K in the future, a must have if you want to get to the nitty Gritty in short order and yes they are an amazing stone, just short of a miracle.

I just shaved off a Gold dollar today I honed through to the 20K and it gave me a better shave than my 200 dollar razors. I couldn't believe it I'm not sure what I even did to get it so good. It had that nice fragile feeling keen edge that Lynn Abrams put on a Ralph Aust for me. I guess the Chinese make good steel.

Originally Posted by TJB

I guess the Chinese make good steel.

The pictures of sacrificially broken GDs that I have seen put the heat treat quality in question (very coarse grain size), but I have never had any problem getting very good edges on the few that I have honed.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

The pictures of sacrificially broken GDs that I have seen put the heat treat quality in question (very coarse grain size), but I have never had any problem getting very good edges on the few that I have honed.

Well I think the one I got was one of the "newer ones." I tried a GD from amazon that came in a clear case and it wasn't even worth half the 15 dollars I spent on it. (bent/warped edge and spine among other defects.) For whatever reason I tried another one based of Anthony Esposito's current run on one seeing how it holds an edge. I got another one that seemed much better made that came in a "blue case with magnetic latch" and only needed an initial pain in the ass bevel set at the heel and otherwise I would say a decent razor. This is the one that took a fantastic edge. Again I just learned to bevel set a razor somewhat well so who knows how I got this edge but it took it and gave me a shave more comfortable as a D.E. teflon blade.

GDs aren't really the topic here and they already have been discussed too much.

Originally Posted by Utopian

GDs aren't really the topic here and they already have been discussed too much.

Sorry! Just posting what was on my mind. I love the Suehiro 20K though! I know I'm a noob at honing but I guess I hit the edge well and it is capable of giving an edge shaving like butter.

Back on topic, does anyone finish on the Suehiro with a few spine leading strokes? Does this really keen up an edge or is it in my head?