Thread: Naniwa 12k Vs Lapping Film

I have finished honing my Razor on a 12k Naniwa Super Stone and the edge feels more smoother when shaving, compared to the same razor finished on 3 M Lapping film .The finishing on lapping film was the white (0.3 micron) with paper underneath.
Is this normal or there is something wrong with me ?

The Naniwa SS series of hone is designed to work very similar to a Japanese natural

Basically I have said it probably 1000 times on here and on the FB page

"You will be hard pressed to beat the edge from a Naniwa SS 12k at any price"

The best part is the more you mess with it the better and more comfortable edge you can work out of it :P

Unfortunately I have no experience with a 12K Naniwa Super Stone, so I can't say anything on what kind of edge and comfort it delivers. I do have experience with the 3M lapping film and can tell you the edges and comfort that it delivers are outstanding for me.

Once I found something that works great, I mean really great, I'm sticking with it. I don't know how much the stones cost, but the film is really inexpensive. With the film coupled with balsa and diamond paste, I have found what I have been searching for, for many years.

I'm sure the stones delivers outstanding edges as well, but probably costs an arm and a leg. Do what works for you and be content with the results! It is afterall, your face!

Smell: I use the green 3M film on plate glass (1.0micron,22,200 grit. the white .3 micron is 80,00 grit) before going to the white.
I think the white is such a fine grit that you would have to be on it for hours before you would reap any benifits from it.

Originally Posted by Smell

I have finished honing my Razor on a 12k Naniwa Super Stone and the edge feels more smoother when shaving, compared to the same razor finished on 3 M Lapping film .The finishing on lapping film was the white (0.3 micron) with paper underneath.
Is this normal or there is something wrong with me ?

Yes, that is normal. It is pretty hard to make the .3u film give you a comfortable edge. The wet paper under the film trick is the way to do it, but it takes some practice to nail it. With film, most guys stop at 1u. A nicely done 1u film edge is a bit sharper than a 12k Naniwa edge and almost as comfortable, but the Naniwa is a very forgiving stone and as Glen already pointed out, really hard to beat. I can, I think, but I have been into the film thing for quite a few years. The main advantage to film is that if your plate is flat, then it should stay flat, the film is always flat, too. No lapping required. And the "entry fee" is low, so great for those who don't hone a lot of razors or who are just starting and don't want to spend the price of a set of SuperStones right out the gate.

I suggest you drop the .3u film. The light green 1u is a sweet spot, if there can be said to be one. If you throw some pull strokes in there and then peak it up with some short (about 3" seems to work well) x stroke laps, and use very light pressure, you can get a very clean edge that cuts nicely but doesn't irritate. If you want still smoother, when you are done on the 1u film, rinse off your gear and put a piece of damp paper under the film, and go 5 or 6 short laps. It changes the character of the edge quite a bit.

Since you do already have the Naniwa, that's not a bad option, anyway, as long as you have a good plate to lap it on that is big enough to minimize overrun. (big enough for a full size sheet of wet/dry sandpaper) You have already paid for it, so cost is not an issue.

I really have not shaved straight off the film OR the Naniwa in some years now. I always follow with the balsa progression, and if you see it through to the end, and respect the sharpness of the edge with good stretching and a low shave angle, it makes for a pretty comfortable shave.