Thread: Best finishing hone

I am trying to decide which stone is the best for finishing. I have a Escher, Jnat, Ark Surgical Black, chromium oxide block and Suehiro 20k. I realize it depends on the blade but what is your experience with finding the perfect finishing stone? I have found that the Suehiro is the easiest to master and gives repeated good results. For comfort, 5-7 laps on the chromium oxide will give a smoother shave for me.

I,m having a hard time with that question myself, cause in the right hands I've found that my shaves are great off of just about any of the many stones out there. Notice. Say in the right hands. So what is the most consistent for just the average honer? You mentioned the SG20k going to be hard to beat, but I think the steel has something to do with it too. I have some razors that do better stopping at the 12k range. So let the games begin. Tc

There is no such thing as the perfect finishing hone. Guys have been searching for that elusive animal forever and probably always will.

You could spend many thousands on a Japanese Finisher in that quest. Personally I like a good Escher or the Suehiro.Either one gets me what I'm after, a great shave.

For me, after the Naniwa SS 12K, the best finisher is the Charnley Forest. I use it with oil, about 100 X-strokes, no pressure. It gives a very smooth shave, no Crox needed, easy to master.

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

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

I am trying to decide which stone is the best for finishing. I have a Escher, Jnat, Ark Surgical Black, chromium oxide block and Suehiro 20k. I realize it depends on the blade but what is your experience with finding the perfect finishing stone? I have found that the Suehiro is the easiest to master and gives repeated good results. For comfort, 5-7 laps on the chromium oxide will give a smoother shave for me.

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

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