Thread: Name Your Favorite Finisher ..... Poll (multiple choice)

The Coticule and Escher are my go to finishers.

Originally Posted by Disburden

I choose naniwa12 but only because I have yet to try anything else besides that and a coticule.

Hey Nick,

Do you find that the Nani 12k has the "edge" over the coti? Significantly so?

BTW - I didn't vote since I only have a coticule and can't compare to the other hones listed, but I can't really complain about my coti either. It does the job....

I've got both the C12k and a coticule. I bought the C12k first, and thought it was great, until I tried a razor finished with the coticule. I get a MUCH more comfortable shave when I finish with the coti.

Fred

Japanese Naturals for sure. Asagi Rocks! I now view most of the stones in the poll as intermediates.

James.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Hey Nick,

Do you find that the Nani 12k has the "edge" over the coti? Significantly so?

BTW - I didn't vote since I only have a coticule and can't compare to the other hones listed, but I can't really complain about my coti either. It does the job....

Well, they're both pretty different from each other so it's a real personal thing. I am more and more loving the naniwa stones though, I think they're extremely consistent and fast hones, but they're smooth too. I love my coticule too and I use it when I'm using methods I learned from bart and I really can't complain, it works very well. I think the reason I picked the naniwa 12 is its a keener edege and very smooth, the coticule wins in overall comfort though. Ymmv

Coticule baby!, but I also love anything that Glen or Sham choose to use on any given day for the finisher Their edges are always tops for me!

THanks for setting up this poll and thread, Jimmy.

JoeD: I find your post very intersting, but I couldnt quite sort out exactly how you were saying the chips (or razors) fall. I'd be very curious to hear you explain your experience on which kinds of blades work best on which hones?

For my money, my recent japanese natural takes the cake (a Maruichi Nakayama Nashiji Renge namito/possibly tomae) - the way it combines a super-sharp edge, like off a diamond paste, with lovely smoothness, is hard to beat. *AND* it is fast. I have a fondness for the coticule as a finisher, despite its slowness - there is a smoothness to the coticule polish that is quite unique. Not quite as sharp as some others, but so, so soft and smooth.

I also have a blade honed by Lynn, that he finished (maybe his usual?) with a Naniwa 12K and then his .5 micron diamond spray, that is super-sharp and amazingly smooth for a diamond edge. I've been experimenting trying to replicate that, and there definitely is something to the diamond paste/spray edge that is unique.

Based on these responses, and much else, I'd really like to try an Escher - never honed with or shaved from one.

Cheers.

Didn't realize it was a multiple-choice poll.

+1 for the Shapton 30k

Originally Posted by Mijbil

THanks for setting up this poll and thread, Jimmy.

JoeD: I find your post very intersting, but I couldnt quite sort out exactly how you were saying the chips (or razors) fall. I'd be very curious to hear you explain your experience on which kinds of blades work best on which hones?

For my money, my recent japanese natural takes the cake (a Maruichi Nakayama Nashiji Renge namito/possibly tomae) - the way it combines a super-sharp edge, like off a diamond paste, with lovely smoothness, is hard to beat. *AND* it is fast. I have a fondness for the coticule as a finisher, despite its slowness - there is a smoothness to the coticule polish that is quite unique. Not quite as sharp as some others, but so, so soft and smooth.

I also have a blade honed by Lynn, that he finished (maybe his usual?) with a Naniwa 12K and then his .5 micron diamond spray, that is super-sharp and amazingly smooth for a diamond edge. I've been experimenting trying to replicate that, and there definitely is something to the diamond paste/spray edge that is unique.

Based on these responses, and much else, I'd really like to try an Escher - never honed with or shaved from one.

Cheers.

In general, and that is important to note, I find that Sheffield steel clogs my Norton hones faster than German and American steel. Of course there are exceptions to the rule like Fredrick Reynolds (ask Holli4pirating) that don't fit the rule. Based on the country of origin I start using hones that I would guess fit best. If it creates a slurry on the hone with normal honing I will go to a harder hone if I have one. If the hone loads up faster than usual I will go to a softer hone, again, if I have one and I will select the following hones from what I found in at the start.

Now it is important to note that this is just my preference and sometimes I just use what appeals to me or just don't swap hones out, but I do generally select my finishers based on the polishing results.

My thoughts on hone selection follow this though: The hone should have a grit particle hard enough to scrape the steel off the blade. The binder should be strong enough to hold the grip particle in place while the scrapping takes place. Once the grit particle looses it's ability to cut (dulling of the grit particle) the binder should let loose of the grit particle to expose a fresh/sharp Grit particle.

When honing a razor in a normal method, if a slurry is created I feel the hone's binder is too soft. If the hone loads with sludge with normal honing I feel the binder is too hard. Rubbing metal on metal creates high friction and no cutting, more friction and less cutting than dull grit particles would create.

Hope this helps.

I voted Escher, however, i would like to throw in the Charnley Forest as a top finishers too...i use it just as much as my Eschers, as a finisher.

Mac