Thread: A Debate: Naniwa 12k vs Shapton 16

Thanks for the reply Glen, I was wondering if you were going to pitch in your opinion, seeing as you're the Shapton guy and all.

I appreciate everyones' input, and I encourage more opinions. And for everyone that recommended getting both hones..... it's tempting, but I realized that I still haven't bought a lapping stone yet, so that will be the second stone. Leaning towards the DMT 8C, but that's another thread.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Thanks for the reply Glen, I was wondering if you were going to pitch in your opinion, seeing as you're the Shapton guy and all.

I appreciate everyones' input, and I encourage more opinions. And for everyone that recommended getting both hones..... it's tempting, but I realized that I still haven't bought a lapping stone yet, so that will be the second stone. Leaning towards the DMT 8C, but that's another thread.

Get both and some sandpaper

Well, these stones are soft, so they lap easily with wet/dry sandpaper on a granite tile. A suitable tile at Home Depot was about $7.

The lazy part of my brain says pick the Shapton.
Harder stone means less lapping when needed tho maybe not such an issue with a polisher

Originally Posted by onimaru55

The lazy part of my brain says pick the Shapton.
Harder stone means less lapping when needed tho maybe not such an issue with a polisher

It's recommended to quickly lap the GlassStones
immediately before use to achieve the absolute
flattest surface (when using the DGLP). These
stones don't seem to wear much even with this
treatment, in my experience.

- Scott

Actually from a result standpoint, these stones are pretty similar. As has been said, the Shapton is a harder feeling stone although, I find it works really well with little water and a light touch. I rarely do more than 10 strokes on it. The Naniwa Super 12K is definitely a softer feeling stone and I also rarely do more than 10 light strokes on it. I have been using the Super 12K on the last 1200 razors I have honed which includes new, ebay specials and restorations and have been enjoying it a lot. Both stones lap very easily and both are cutters as well as polishers. I do normally go to paste/spray on felt after each, but I like the paste/spray after all my stones including the naturals.

This is a pretty tough call.

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

Actually from a result standpoint, these stones are pretty similar. As has been said, the Shapton is a harder feeling stone although, I find it works really well with little water and a light touch. I rarely do more than 10 strokes on it. The Naniwa Super 12K is definitely a softer feeling stone and I also rarely do more than 10 light strokes on it. I have been using the Super 12K on the last 1200 razors I have honed which includes new, ebay specials and restorations and have been enjoying it a lot. Both stones lap very easily and both are cutters as well as polishers. I do normally go to paste/spray on felt after each, but I like the paste/spray after all my stones including the naturals.

This is a pretty tough call.

Lynn

Lynn, not to hijack Ryan's thread here and get off topic but if I'm currently using a Chinese 12k, in your mind would you replace the C12k w/ the Naniwa? My thinking was to possibly bring in an Escher or Shapton 16K as a stone to follow the C12k.

Again, apologies to Ryan for the sidetrack.

Joe

That one is an easy call for me Joe. I responded to your other thread on the Chinese 12K too. I like the Chinese 12K, but it is a very slow cutter and for me somewhat inconsistent. I don't know sometimes if I need 30 or 60 or 100 strokes depending on the razor and find myself coming back to it quite a few times when I use it. When I use the Naniwa 12K, I usually know that approx 10 strokes is gonna do it for me and occasionally if I have to go back to it, it is usually one more time only with 5-10 strokes more.

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

That one is an easy call for me Joe. I responded to your other thread on the Chinese 12K too. I like the Chinese 12K, but it is a very slow cutter and for me somewhat inconsistent. I don't know sometimes if I need 30 or 60 or 100 strokes depending on the razor and find myself coming back to it quite a few times when I use it. When I use the Naniwa 12K, I usually know that approx 10 strokes is gonna do it for me and occasionally if I have to go back to it, it is usually one more time only with 5-10 strokes more.

Lynn

Lynn, do you find that any extra stokes overhones or otherwise reduces the quality of the edge? I'm wondering why not just do 15-20 strokes on the naniwa in the first place and basically never need to go back?

Originally Posted by pjrage

Lynn, do you find that any extra stokes overhones or otherwise reduces the quality of the edge? I'm wondering why not just do 15-20 strokes on the naniwa in the first place and basically never need to go back?

More times than not the 10 strokes is just right.......... Repeatable results are what I look for the most at the polishing stage mainly because of the number of razors I hone. I like to go back to the hone as little as possible.

Lynn