Thread: Suehiro VS Naniwa hones

I have a 20k Suehiro and a 12k Naniwa and I am looking to replace my 5k Shapton with either a Suehiro or Naniwa. I have not compared the same grit stones so I am curious if anyone has.

I have a suehiro 6k hone that works just fine. I've never consciously used it in comparison to my SuperStone (now Specialty) 5k. I do not have, nor never have used the Chosera (now Pro) 5k.

Off the top of my head, I would say the SS 5k is softer than the S 6k but both can accomplish the task of a mid grit hone just fine. You will have to refresh the edge of the SS more often. If I had to pick one over the other it definitely would be the SS.

What is your objection to the Shapton Pro 5k?

The Shapton's is a very fine stones that works well. I have found with my 12k SS that the feedback is better. The way the blade feels when it passes over the SS tells me its at the point to strop or move on. The Shapton is very slick, like glass, and when the blade starts to stick tells me its done. As you said, the stones work but now that I have been doing this for a while it comes down to feel. I can get good edges on all of them. The SS is a faster stone I have found then the Shapton. I really like the Suehiro 20k and just purchased a jNat for finishing. Looking for the "Perfect edge and smooth shave" Aren't we all!

I think that it is a common occurrence that individual lines play best together. If you like the SS12k, then you might as well use the SS5k if you are not happy with your Pro5k. What else are you using?

I'm of the opposite persuasion - opposites attract! Regardless - I am a Naniwa fan and user however, have no experience with the Suehiro - working on saving for a 20k to compare myself but, I lean towards natural stones more often. Let us know your choice and how you like it (or not)!

One of the reasons that opposites do not attract is the variability of manufacturer's grit scales. Not all 5k hones have even close to the same grit size.