Thread: Chosera vs SuperStone progression.

I currently have a Chosera 1k, Norton 4k/8k, Naniwa SS 12k, along with way to many naturals we won't talk about.
Would it be better to get a Chosera 2k,3k,5k for $330.00 or SS 2k,3k,5k,8k,10k for $315 .

For the same price in Chosera I get 3 stones and a big jump from 5k to my SS 12k, in SS I get 5 stones with smooth migrations all the way.
I have the money for either and have the HAD, which is the only reason I am wanting to spend the money, my current combination with the 4k/8k along with some nats, pastes, leather, and voodoo work decent enough.

I only found searches that talked about Chosera 1k for bevel setting, and nothing about the higher stones for razors. I have read plenty about the SS and know that would be a good choice, I just want the HAD factor of Chosera but if its not going to help me then why bother...

Thank you in advance for your time, Kevin

I was (am) in a similar position, I started with the Norton 4/8k and recently got the Pro 1K and SS12K to go at either end.

The HAD got me quickly and I started to look for a replacement for the 4/8K.

Initially I was looking at the pro 5K and 10K, but the price of the 10K was too high to justify.

I read good things about the Naniwa jyunpaku (i.e. the snow white) and seriously considered it as a (more modestly priced) substitution for the pro 10K.

In the end went and ordered (and just received today) the naniwa hayabusa 4K and the naniwa fuji 8K. I managed to get both stones for the same price I could have got the pro 5K for.

The snow white, hayabusa and the fuji are not particularly popular (especially the last two) so they may require some experimentation and there will be a limited amount of help if something goes amiss.

For me the price was right and the thought of stepping into the unknown (or at least less well explored) was not a problem, as it see it as an opportunity to find out if I like experimenting with honing before I join the Jnat club.

Naniwa jyunpaku? so that is a Japan only stone that I can't get from SRD.com or sharpening supplies.com ? I did some google foo and found weirdness.

All 3 are available from (Naniwa Ceramic : Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.), which is where I ordered from. The snow white is available in the US from (The Original Naniwa Snow White 8K)

The super stone progression would not need the 10K is you already have the 12K. Likewise the 5K is capable of removing the 1K scratches pretty fast so the 2K and 3K arn't needed. The 5K superstone is very versatile.

My own progression is 1K chosera, 5K 8K 12K super stones.

The 5 and 8K stones are $127.

If it were my choice I would have the 5K 8K stones then take the $150 left over and pick up a natural finisher like a thuri or Coticule. It'll give you the nice synthetic rotation that works, and let you play with natural edges.

That been said the difference in the 4/8 norton and the 5/8 superstones isn't going to be a game changer in terms of progression. The 12K is capable of removing the scratches from the norton without an issue. So you could just save your money with the synthetics until the norton has worn out. And Pick up better naturals to begin with, Or the 20K suehiro that everyone is raving about atm.

Get a 5k Chosera to follow after your 1k Chosera , it will work just fine. You can then use your 8k Norton to bridge to the 12k although I am sure you will be able to work right off the 5k on your 12k. It may take a few more laps, but I doubt it will be too different when bridging with an 8k.

Originally Posted by DrDalton

All 3 are available from (Naniwa Ceramic : Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.), which is where I ordered from. The snow white is available in the US from (The Original Naniwa Snow White 8K)

This piqued my interest, the site says they are in the 'ceramic' category, but apparently only because they're not traditional synthetic Japanese water stones and do not fall into the Chosera/Superstone lines. Which begs the question, what exactly are they? Are these harder than the typical water stone lineup, or is the site just playing with it's wording?

Super stones are resin bonded.
Chosera are magnesia bonded.

Ceramic bonded just means the bonding is either fired or chemically altered clay type bonding. Firing isn't just drying it vitrifies the clay.

Most ceramics are fired, chemically altered clay type binder is also possible producing an un-vitrified clay type perhaps includes a secondary binder like a resin. It could be a different base clay binder to standard that takes a higher fire temp and vitrifies more. Making a harder glassier type stone with less voids. Going on the description of the users the snow white gets reviewed as harder than normal. I can't comment as I don't own one to compare.


Did a little edit as what I originally wrote was about a clear as mud!

Going from the Norton 4/8k to the Super Stones, I doubt you will be happy and certainly not see edge improvement. I have several progressions of synthetic stones and the Norton’s are hard to beat. The 4/8k was my go to for a lot of years.

The Old 8k snow white is the one to get, not the new one, if you really want the good 8k, but really it does not matter, it is quick and leaves a nice finish, but if you are going to a 12k super stone you end up with a 12k Super Stone edge…

Your Chosera 1k, Norton 4/8k and 12k Super Stone is a bullet proof progression. You can spend more money, but really, there will be no difference in the shaving edge performance.

I too, vote for spending your money, on the GS20K and keeping your current progression. Now, that… will make a difference on your edges.

Any of the other progressions may feel different, but the edge will be the same.

Yea, Tools from Japan, Ken Schwartz was carrying them, last year, but I do not see them on the CKTG site, you might email him.

Haha im glad you made the decision to expand your honing range as opposed to replacing stones. The next time you hone a razor considering all goes well, I think youll have a smile on your face after the shave test.