Thread: Chosera VS Superstone

Originally Posted by zib

I have a wet saw, but that's a pricey stone to take a chance with. I could cut into 4 equal pieces, but as far as a "Filet Cut" goes, My saw will only cut 1 inch thick. Although, I could probably get my hands on equipment to do it..

I guess with performance so similar to the super 12k as far as straight razors go, there's probably no real point in risking it.

Agreed. It's not like your cutting a Chinese 12k.....

Zib,

I posted thanks because I appreciate the thread. I myself have been considering the naniwa superstone 12k as a finisher.

I'm looking forward to your impressions of the stone, i.e., how it laps, the edge it gave, the feel, etc.

Just a thought on the thickness of the Chosera in relation to price. If a company is making a stone and targeting a specific market they will price it accordingly. It is that thick and expensive because it is made for honing plane irons and chisels. More pressure and more flattening = more wear hence the thicker stone.

It would take the average guy two lifetimes to wear one of those out honing straight razors so unless it is just head and shoulders above the rest in getting razors sharp I am going to leave the Chosera to the tool guys......maybe.

I agree Jimmy, That's what I heard, it's mainly for Chisels and whatnot, The super is better for Str8's. I will definitely keep you guys posted when I get the stone. I'm going to use razors that are shave ready, off a Coti, one's I normally hit with the Chinese 12k, and see what the Naniwa does. Maximillian tells me he loves his, kicked all his other rocks to the curb. You think he has an Escher for me, that needs a good home..Maybe a small rehoming fee? Where are you Max?

P.S. PJ, I thought the same thing about the Shapton, (save on shipping) but Don's out of the Shapton 16k right now, Damm the bad luck

I now have the Naniwa, Superstone 800/5000 and a Naniwa Chosera 10K.

I set the bevel with the 800, move onto the 5000, then 10000 and then a few laps on CrOx and then strop. Quick simple efficient and very effective.
A smooth shave ready razors edge every time.

Unbelievably boring really.

The observation I would make is that the Chosera is a harder stone than the Superstone. This said, the Chosera is a much softer hone than I am used to and the Superstones are very soft.

All three grits get "dirty" very quickly and the rubbing stone cleans them back to new again very quickly.

As to the life of the hones. Well, they are not like a coticule. They release the surface very easily because they are so soft. This combined with the need to clean them with a surface releasing rubbing stone, means the surface is breaking down quite quickly relative to a harder stone.

So I think a professional will find the hone will not last as long as say a Chinese 12k but the stone hones like grease lightning. Time is money. Naniwa knows that and has priced the stones accordingly.

I hope that helps explain some of the differences.

I agree. I just used my Naniwa 12k on a probem child razor, an old Puma 90. It's one of those razors that no matter what you do it shaves so so. I tried all kinds of combos with it. I'm still working. This time, I used the Naniwa 12k as my finisher (hone wise) that is. Sometimes, I'll go to Diamond pastes and/or Crox. Depends on the blade. Anwyay, The naniwa 12k did need some lapping. I started with my D8XX, moved to a D8C, then the whole progression of Wet/Dry Sanpaper. 220 - 1000K. It's a beautiful soft salmon color stone. I did only about 15 passes on the Naniwa 12k, it's fast. To me, less is more. When hear guys talking about doing 200 passes on their coticule I cringe. There is such a thing as "Overhoning". If your not using a Chinese 12k, then move to a differerent grit. Anyway, getting off track.

I think the Naniwa line of stones are well worth the money. Easy to lapp. Easy to use and fast cutters. I bought mine off Don and Lynn. Don as always was very helpful. I'll probably buy the entire line. I'd like to see what they'll do from start to finish. You can buy all of them 10k,8k, 5k,3k, 1k, 400k, 220k at SRD for under 300 bucks. I left out the 12k because I already have it...What I especially like about these stones is the speed of cutting. You don't have to do 50 or 100 laps like you do on a C12k. I not giving up my C12k, now, I do have my HAD to think about it.

Do the superstones come with a rubbing stone? English mentioned one so that made me wonder.

I received a rubbing stone only with the Chosera and not with the superstone.

You can buy them seperately.

Originally Posted by English

I received a rubbing stone only with the Chosera and not with the superstone.

You can buy them seperately.

Is it advisable to buy one for the super stones? Or is there an alternative that maybe most of us already have?