Thread: What makes final finishing stone Great stone?

I've noticed too that a good stone when its close to having a good final edge on the blade tends to have more drag, almost like suction when you are making a pass that resists your advance...slightly obviously but my 12K will do that, and i usually do about 20 more passes, 10 strokes and hit the strop.

When I get a haircut and my barber runs the back of his index finger UP my sideburn, he knows instantly whether I had a good edge on my razor. That edge usually comes off an Escher followed by a Shapton 16k and .5 diamond paste...............

For me the answer would be great feedback, fun to work with consistency of results, fast worker and smooth edge.

Smoothness is King.

That my Chinese Guangxi polishing hone aka. C12k and
Osaki Japanese natural finishing hone are slow is ok,
I'm in no hurry and I have nice slow music on.

Originally Posted by DustinW

You consider quick as under 200 passes? What are you finishing on, cheddar cheese? My Naniwa 12k takes maybe 15 for all but my TI blade, that one took 25 passes. I'd never be able to be steady for 100-200 passes... Of course I usually hold my breath for the passes on the finishing stone >.>

some natural stones so slow cutters you made end up making 300 strokes.gl

Unbelievable sharpness but now with enough smoothness to not feel harsh on my face is what I look for. That's why I finish on a natural (escher) after a Naniwa 12k, the ss 12k isn't smooth enough for my face.

Originally Posted by DustinW

You consider quick as under 200 passes? What are you finishing on, cheddar cheese? My Naniwa 12k takes maybe 15 for all but my TI blade, that one took 25 passes.

I'd never be able to be steady for 100-200 passes... Of course I usually hold my breath for the passes on the finishing stone >.>

100+ passes goes pretty fast really, probably less than 10 minutes if I take a wild guess. To me, that's an acceptable amount of time to spend with a beautiful natural hone and a razor.

Originally Posted by joke1176

100+ passes goes pretty fast really, probably less than 10 minutes if I take a wild guess. To me, that's an acceptable amount of time to spend with a beautiful natural hone and a razor.

I agree. I recall one post when I first came around where a senior member referred to "the drudgery of honing." Thankfully for me it has always been something I enjoyed so more strokes isn't a negative.