Thread: Comparing the Naniwa Pro and the Naniwa Specialy lines

I bought the Choseras some time ago. before they changed the name to 'professional.' Perhaps they changed the composition of the stones as well ? I've had no complaints with mine other that some minor surface cracks appearing on the 5k at the edges.

I begin honing by setting my first chosera in a container of water for 5 minutes of so. When I pull it out to begin I set the next one in the sequence in the water. So they all get 5 minutes soak before I used them. I have not found them to be 'thirsty' nor rough. It has been so long since I sold my superstones that I cannot remember them well enough to comment beyond saying that I probably should have held on to them.

Chosera 1-5-10
Superstone 1-3-5-8-10-12

Been using the Chosera on the majority of razors for a few years now, I actually use slurry when honing, I abuse the hones they're are simply tools to me.. The Crazing (Not cracks) has never been an issue for me, I do a few figure 8's with a well worn DMT 325 before each razor and move on..

IMHO The Chosera 10k edge is simply too harsh to use without stupid amounts of Strop work after honing, so I ALWAYS use a Natural finisher afterward..

The the differences that I see between the two

The Choseras are a faster cutter but still very shallow stria, which as I understand it is because they have more Grit per Sq/In

The SS are probably the closest synthetic hones I have used that are truly targeted at SR's, I doubt they planned that, but the feel and feedback make SR honing pretty straight forward on them..

I have said often that the Naniwa SS are hard to beat at any price..

I would NOT recommend the Choseras to anyone that is not honing professionally, and that have an abundance of Natural Finishers and the experience to use them after..
They are fast, accurate, and damn expensive

I feel the Naniwa SS progression is the best money spent for most SR honers


JHMO and a bit of experience teaching people to hone

I have a 3k Chosera that I like very much. It performs much like the 3k SS but stays flatter and feels a bit harder IMO. If I dropped it or something, I would repurchase the Pro, rather than go to the 3k SP.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I have a 3k Chosera that I like very much. It performs much like the 3k SS but stays flatter and feels a bit harder IMO. If I dropped it or something, I would repurchase the Pro, rather than go to the 3k SP.

I love my Chosera 3k as well, I also have the 'original' snow white 8k which is the same binder as the Chosera, both are great stones and I would never trade them off.

Several vendors claim the Professional line as well as the Chosera line uses "magnesia" or "magnesium" as the binder. They also claim the SS line uses "resin" bonding. The Chosera line is still available but only for the Japanese market and only in the thinner size on fixed bases.

Originally Posted by Wirm

Several vendors claim the Professional line as well as the Chosera line uses "magnesia" or "magnesium" as the binder. They also claim the SS line uses "resin" bonding. The Chosera line is still available but only for the Japanese market and only in the thinner size on fixed bases.

That is what I was given to understand when I bought mine. TBH the reason I sold my Shapton Pros, my Naniwa SuperStones was because the polymer binder, or whatever, caused them to always need lapping every time I took them out to hone.

Even if I put them away absolutely flat. Not so the Norton 4 & 8 single grit hones. They only need lapping when they are dishing. Unfortunately the Choseras (mine) are no better in that regard than the pros or the supers. Live and learn ...........

HERE is a thread about the lapping issue with SuperStones.

The upshot lesson from all of that thread was that the hones needed to be treated the same way each time. I have found that I prefer to soak them for a few minutes, hone on them, and then gently lap them before putting them away. The rationale for this was to lap/refresh the hones after they have been wet for a longer period of time. Another option would be to lap/refresh it after soaking but before honing. The advantage of this way would be that you have fresh slurry available on the hone. The reason that I don't do this method is that I have found a better uniformity in the hones' swelling when they have been wet a little longer, as they are after finishing the honing.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I bought the Choseras some time ago. before they changed the name to 'professional.' Perhaps they changed the composition of the stones as well ?

As far as I know, Naniwa has continued to state that the formulations have not changed. Only the names have been changed.

Originally Posted by Utopian

As far as I know, Naniwa has continued to state that the formulations have not changed. Only the names have been changed.

Naniwa Professional Stone, P310, grit: 1000 | knivesandtools.co.uk

According to where I get my Naniwas from they have renewed the binder.
Ive got both the Superstone and Specialty in 10k and cant tell much difference, I find the Specialty a bit thirstier, but results practically the same, then again I only hone for myself so dont spend the amount of time on the hones as some of you fine gentlemen.