Thread: Best finishing hone

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I have heard this song before, a long sad tale of love found and lost and many dollars spent

Indeed, and as many razors which pass through Glen's hands, the art of which finisher to go with has been learned and likely decided upon early in the honing regimen or by past experience. Razors are different and so are finishers.
Some like different things. Therein lies the challenge of which finisher is perfect.....For what razor!
JMHO

Okay, I think we all agree, take each razor and try different finishers. Wouldn't it be nice to set up a place on this forum that lists the razor and what finisher was used. Then we could try the recommended finisher with the razor and mumble how little the posting guy knows. I would love to hear from our distinguished honemeisters on what they have found success with. The Ark surgical black I just got intrigues me but for speed and performance the Suehiro 20k, chromium oxide or Escher seems to work on most razors.

Originally Posted by jkatzman

Okay, I think we all agree, take each razor and try different finishers. Wouldn't it be nice to set up a place on this forum that lists the razor and what finisher was used. Then we could try the recommended finisher with the razor and mumble how little the posting guy knows. I would love to hear from our distinguished honemeisters on what they have found success with. The Ark surgical black I just got intrigues me but for speed and performance the Suehiro 20k, chromium oxide or Escher seems to work on most razors.

You seem to be in a good spot for finishers!
I just want to get them shaving, so I work between a Naniwa 12k and an Escher.
All get the 12k.....Some get some Escher. Some even get the CroOx! Depends!

You have a nice set of finishers with which to use and compare. Nice problem to have! (if you want it!)

Originally Posted by jkatzman

Okay, I think we all agree, take each razor and try different finishers. Wouldn't it be nice to set up a place on this forum that lists the razor and what finisher was used. Then we could try the recommended finisher with the razor and mumble how little the posting guy knows. I would love to hear from our distinguished honemeisters on what they have found success with. The Ark surgical black I just got intrigues me but for speed and performance the Suehiro 20k, chromium oxide or Escher seems to work on most razors.

Ahhhhhhhh What a great idea,,, Now not to sound like a smartalec but some of us tried that on the open forum and the threads were flooded by the Fanboys of the various hones, that firmly believe that their one hone, is the end all be all of all hones...

Originally Posted by Hirlau

,,,has been and always will be ,,,, the Coticule.

LOL yeah just like that
Gotcha John



So after dozens of threads many of us finally just gave it up,


Keeping in mind that a certain finisher on a certain razor will get you to let's call it 99% of the best that edge will ever be, it is that last 1% that we all seem to argue about and spend Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much of our money on...

Anyway,,, that is my story and I am sticking to it



Hint: if you go read through the HOTD thread you will find patterns hidden in there

There is no perfect finisher. Some people like very sharp edges which come from the likes of Suehiro 20k or diamond film. Some people find those edges to be too keen, so they prefer something more "smoot" at the expense of a little bit less keenness like a J-Nat edge or an Escher/Thuri edge. Some people like their edges finished on CrO or diamond spray. Basically the perfect finisher is a personal preference, and also will depend on the razor being honed.

There's no such thing... User ability, skin types, steel types, and a few other variables render this a real case of apples and oranges

Like I would finish a sheffield on an ark 100/100x vs a Thuri, but I would finish a sheffield on a Thuri 100/100x vs a lune or special stone even when I see them as all being on a similar plane of greatness

Of all the edges I have tried (coticule, synthetic 12k, synthetic 20k, Chinese, JNat, Escher, Arkansas) only one of those stopped me dead in my tracks as it was so sharp and smooth I didn't even think it was cutting because there was no resistance to be felt but it was in fact shaving exceptionally close. Then when applying aftershave absolutely NO BURN. I was simply amazed and have been using it ever since-Arkansas.

For me that's where it is at but then again I am in Love and Love is blind. Romancing the stone. Partial and biased. In denial and loving it. Hey! You asked!

Actually, I have found that MY finishing hones are the best!

Well, I have some test results. I honed a Genco, Puma, Double Duck, Wade & Butcher and an Aust. Since they were already sharpened using Naniwa 5k and 12k stones I wanted to see what happens when using an Escher, Suehiro 20k and chromium oxide. I then did 25 laps on an English leather modular strop. The older blades seemed to really respond to the Escher under running water. The Aust was much better using the 20k or chromium oxide. I really liked the smooth shave on the older blades. I just completed testing the Genco and Puma with my Black surgical Ark and it wasn't as good as the Escher. I want to clarify this by saying I got the Ark 2 weeks ago from Dan's and burnished it until it is smooth as glass. I think my test results are more because I am still learning on it. It is apparent to me the older steel relates better to the older stone. Your test results may vary so don't take this as the Gospel.