No mention of how bad the 20K smells?? :D
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No mention of how bad the 20K smells?? :D
I started with the 1K and 3/8K and for a finisher I used the 12K all naniwa SS. these hones gave me a great shave I thought. Now I don't have the micro scopes like some I just use a jewelers loop so I can't see the very small scratch patterns any stone leaves. I was visiting a friend who introduced me to the Suehiro 20K or should I say hooked me with the Suehiro 20K. once I saw and felt the difference in the shave that was all it took for me . the shave felt far better with the 20K. When I combined the ease of honing with the naniwa stones and also the 20 it made honing a lot better for me. others will and have had different experience's with these hones but I still believe they are the easiest hones to use. I now use the 1-3-5-8-12l naniwa SS hones whether I need the 3 or the 5 I don't know I just like the progression.
I agree Oz, it is what 'progression' is all about. A visible to the eye 'significant' scratch left by a 20k hone, is IMHO curious to say the least.
When I first took mine out of the shrink wrap, the whole room stank of what smelled like strong nail polish remover. It still smells that way, just not as strong.
Granted, I have only had the stone a few days, and perhaps that smell will go away altogether eventually.
I am assuming it's a bonding agent that holds all the particles of the stone together. It smells akin to the stuff dentist sometimes use to seal fillings.
Also, if I might add, I was impressed that the stone comes with it's edges and corners already rounded off. A nice little added detail.
I see significant scratches, long lines across bevel. Lines looks like caused by some inclusions. Similar lines are typical signs of honig on some CF stones. Lines are visible only under a certain angle. Space between scratches is very shiny. Pressure is very small, like on very hard Ozuku asagi (source Hokuto).
I lapped the stone twice. First time up to 1k (FEPA P) aloxite waterproof sandpaper. Second time only by Atoma #400. But even after lapping by Atoma plate, the results did not improve. So this is not inclusion from sand paper.
I used only back side of stone (side without printing), maybe this is problem. I did not use supplied cleaning stone.
I'll make another attempt on the other side of the stone.
I agree with Utopian. No smell. Not on any of the series.
I'd send an email to your retailer. I leave the side with writing alone, never , ever seen any, scratching the type you describe even under magnification. I'd get it looked at because it's not been mentioned before in this way that I'm aware of. I also use exclusively the Atoma
#400 for the lapping of the Suehiro Gokumyo 10k, 15k, 20k with no issues arising.
Cheers Bob