Thread: Naniwa 3k/8k

Originally Posted by justinp

I'm glad I found this....i was just about to make a new topic on this. I'm going to order a set of hones this weekend. I'm not picky, but only have money to buy one set that is to last me a long, long time. I will only be honing my razor when it needs it (hones wont see a lot of miles). I already have the naniwa 12k, so i'm going to stick to that set. I'm getting a 1k, 3 or 5k, and 8k. My question is simple (because i know that both 3 and 5 k work well). If I gave you a choice of 3 or 5 to use in the set, which one would you grab. (that'll be the one I buy)

I have had the 1,5,8, 12 since last summer. They work great. The 5k works great.

The only reason I picked up the 3k is that for a couple of antique store finds, it was taking forever to progress beyond the 5k, so I picked up the 3k to see if I could shorten that step. I have only used the 3k once, and it worked well. But I went to 5k right after for a few - not knowing that Lynn had said going from 3k to 5k would work well.

So I can't say much for the 3k, but the 5k is really good.

I've done 1 3 8 and 1 5 8 and found that you can do exactly the same thing either way and get similar results. You may need to tweak a bit based on your own honing, but that is always the way it goes. No numbers are set in stone. Gotta play around to figure out what works best for you - other people's numbers thould be thought of as guidelines, no absolutes.

I tend to use the 3K/8K more with restoration razors and the 5K/8K more with everyday honing. The differences are negligible and I really think either will work fine.

Lynn

Lynn,

I want to say thank you. For your advice, services, and of course SRP. I picked up a DMT-325, the Naniwa 3k/5k, and the Naniwa 12k from SRD. After exhausting the Wiki and scouring all you've written on honing there I jumped into my first honing. For my first try I picked a Flic Cutlery Co. 13/16 I had picked up last week and proceeded as follows:

DMT-325 = 20 circles each side followed by about 20 X-strokes unil it passed TPT
3k/8k = pyramid starting at 15 laps each side. Not quite there, start over at 15. There!
12k = 15 X-strokes
SRD Premier Black Latigo = 100 laps

Result = Fantastic Shave!

Thank you again for all your guidance.