Thread: Bevel setter upgrade

I picked up a Naniwa Traditional on the suggestion of Lynn Abrams. It does a very nice job and is aggressive. Very light laps. I use it under running water and it sets a very nice bevel.

Just curious, those who think the Shapton Pro series is too aggressive what would be good for the mid range honing after setting the bevel on one? I have a 1k Pro and my mid range is a Norton 4/8 and the 4 is almost gone so I’d like something splash and go. Then I have a Nani 12 and SG 20k for finish.

The pro series is fine. You can temper them a lot with a 15 minute soak, they'll be a lot softer and will load less and will do a nice job.

Either a 2k or a 3k would be fine. The 2k halves the micron size, and the 3k just slightly greater than thirds it.

If I want to minimize steps to the 12k what would you recommend? Could I go straight to a 5k and then the 12 or would that be too much work to get the scratches out? Maybe a 3k and 8K would be ok?

I use the Naniwa 1k traditional. It was recommended by Lynn Abrams. Does a first rate job. I then go to my Naniwa 5k, 8k, 12k and then 7-10 laps on my Escher and lastly to my Mastro Livi Chromium oxide and skin on the loom strop. I find my best results come honing under running water. I have used JNats but find I get very good results with the Naniwa's and it is faster then the JNat progression.

The 5k is three micron. It can follow the 1k (the abrasive is aggressive - the very close steps are good insurance, but not necessary if you remove all of the work of the prior stone).

I'd imagine with stones as strong as shaptons and chosera, more than a 3 stone rotation is never required. If you had five, whatever you spent on each of the last two pairs could probably just be spent on the finer of the two and you'll get done just as fast.

I've never been in love with the shapton 12/15 pro or 16k glasstone (or chosera 10k for that matter, or even the sigma power 13000) as a finisher. Once in a while, you get a razor that won't tolerate them for some reason.

Maybe a 5k and 8k Pro will be a good plan for the money. I have plenty of options to finish on already. Yellow Green Thuri, Vintage Coti, CNAT, or Nani 12 to SG 20. Just need to get a couple of middle ground stones to replace that Norton.

5 and 8 are almost the same stone. About 3 and 2 micron, respectively. I'd do 2 and 8k if I were you.

Originally Posted by kamots

Thanks for all the replies and help guys.
As I cannot afford the Chosera/Pro 1k, I went with the Shapton Korumaku 1.5k.
Also have some vintage Sheffield wedges coming next week. Looking forward to putting the Shapton through it's paces.
Thanks

I'm in a similar boat as you. For the past couple of years, I've really enjoyed a 1k/3k Suehiro combo leading up to a coticule, or analogous natural stone. Although I love the 1k/3k Suehiro in general, a continual problem has been that it takes forever to dry out after soaking; and when I'm on the road, this can pose a problem. As a result, I too was looking for a splash and go stone, and as a replacement, I recently ordered 1.5k and 5k Shapton pros, prior to reading this thread. My plan is to cut them down as I like to hand-hold my stones. Less real estate can be good in some instances. Here's to hoping we both have found a solution!

Interesting. Since I end on a 12K what about going 1-5-12? Or is this too much? I’m not sure where to find the conversions.