Thread: Finishing hone

Originally Posted by Speedster

As for the SG20k, I've gotten a lot more time on the hone and some good advice from Jamie that have dramatically improved my results for this incredibly fine hone

So share this info from Jamie. Im doing fine on my 20k and really likes the edge i get, but a helpful hint is always good.

Sure, Jerry. I was essentially doing about half a dozen laps and no more initially with the SG20k.

Early July, after reading some advice on the forum, I changed up my finishing routine so I was doing between 10-20 laps. I was very pleased with the shave from this DT#13 and thought to share my success with Jamie.

In our chat, he said something like, "It's impossible to overhone your razor on that stone." Right then and there I knew I was holding back and not realizing the stone's true potential. Ensure the razor is fine coming off of my 12k SS, and the SG20k nearly guarantees a sweet, sharp, and smooth shaving edge!

Coincidentally, the 20 laps seems a good rough estimate for the 20k. That's equivalent to the best edge that razor has seen by me, and the Fili came to me used having been honed by Sham. I'm sold.

Originally Posted by Speedster

Sure, Jerry. I was essentially doing about half a dozen laps and no more initially with the SG20k.

Early July, after reading some advice on the forum, I changed up my finishing routine so I was doing between 10-20 laps. I was very pleased with the shave from this DT#13 and thought to share my success with Jamie.

In our chat, he said something like, "It's impossible to overhone your razor on that stone." Right then and there I knew I was holding back and not realizing the stone's true potential. Ensure the razor is fine coming off of my 12k SS, and the SG20k nearly guarantees a sweet, sharp, and smooth shaving edge!

Coincidentally, the 20 laps seems a good rough estimate for the 20k. That's equivalent to the best edge that razor has seen by me, and the Fili came to me used having been honed by Sham. I'm sold.

I'd say anything is possible I find 6-10 laps on the 20k is plenty if all previous work is good. More laps can compensate for a less than optimised 8k or 12k edge but you can degrade an edge with any stone at some point if you don't stop, even a coticule.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I'd say anything is possible I find 6-10 laps on the 20k is plenty if all previous work is good. More laps can compensate for a less than optimised 8k or 12k edge but you can degrade an edge with any stone at some point if you don't stop, even a coticule.

Agreed, Oz. TBH, I should have stipulated 20 laps as the max rather than rule of thumb. I've hardly been at-risk for overhoning and needed a bit of a push. So, the advice fit my needs perfectly!

Thanks for the info, Mark. I always do way more than I should. I should be honing on a piece of paper with the number of laps I do. I will try and cut down and see if it helps. I just get so carried away when honing. 2000 laps, 3000 laps, 4000 laps. OK, maybe not that bad, but you get my drift.

An interesting conversation on the 12k and SG20, but what is overlooked is the razor. I like both stones but the SG20 can be too much for many razors, will shave well but will micro- chip after a week or so of shaving and stropping. The same thing can happen with film if taken too far.

It is a good experiment though, and can easily be repaired, by jointing the thin edge and re-finishing the edge, usually as few as 10 -20 on an 8 or 12k.

I believe the SG20 is too aggressive and can thin an edge too much. Here, as said testing is important to learn the limits of a given razor for a particular stone. I usually go to the SG20 from a 12k or Fuji 8k Naniwa, the finish is very similar from both, almost stria free.

I like a crisp edge and have noted that few razors can consistently produce and keep one, Vintage Thiers Issard, thinly ground Happy Valley razors, (Double Ducks, Geneva & Imps) Filly’s and some vintage Solingen.

I am always amazed at the edge condition of razors I get in for honing, that folks claim to be shaving with, which leads me to believe the term “Shaving” to be very subjective.

Back to the OP, I would pass on the C12K and look at the Naniwia 12k Super Stone or the Fuji Snow White 8k (White Box) there are 2 Snow White Naniwia stones and they are very different stones. You cannot go wrong with either stone. The King Ice Bear 10k/Kitayama 8000, (some say they are the same stone), is in the same league and finish as the Naniwia 12k, but harder to find.
The post Jer was talking about, is in the Advanced Honing forum, (12K Chip Removal/Bevel Set)

I recommend learning on a solid synthetic progression, then experiment with naturals, as naturals can vary widely. If you are going to finish on a pasted strop then it really does not matter as the edge from a pasted 8 or 12k edge (50-100 laps) is really very similar to a SG20, plain leather stropped edge. Edge durability is another matter.

I haven’t spent a lot of money on stones and reset a bevel using a a 1k diamond plate followed by a Norton 4K/8k. I finish using my combo coticule or Oozuko followed by my Vermio.

I used to finish my coticule edges on CrOx on balsa after diamond spray on felt, but have been very happy with the polished edges the Vermio leaves and consider it to be a bargain for what it cost at Griffiths Shaving. I now use CrOx and diamond only to touch up and will likely lean more on the Vermio for that as well once I learn more about the stone.

All of this should be put in the context of my never having experienced a shave from a razor finished on anything of higher grit than what I have.