Thread: What makes final finishing stone Great stone?

-good feedback: I like my finisher to give good visual, tactile and auditory cues when the edge is "getting good"

-quick finisher: able to take an 8k edge and refine it in a reasonable amount of time, i.e. less than 100-200 passes

-visually pleasing: a boring looking synthetic hone like the Spyderco does nothing for me, but some of the coticules and Japanese stones are works of art of their own.

-consistency: no unpleasant surprises lurking under the surface of the stone as it gets lapped over the course of time.

-face appeal: the most important part, how it feels on my face!!

It's also a combination of things for me as well. We are the fringe of the modern shaving community, taking a step back into a era we enjoy. To that end a few of us see straight shaving as a unique way to do an everyday (or so) duty. So why not take it a step further (or several) and look for those pieces of equipment that are also on the fringe of their arena On that note...

My finisher has to be a Natural hone, tried the synthetics and didn't care for their edge.

Feedback from the stone should be pleasing, and somewhat earthy

Place an easy to see edge improvement over lesser (grit) stones

And last (if not least) The Shave!! It must be smooth, no grabby sticky edges.


So as far as grit is concerned I really don't care what it is as long as it's smooth shaving. I've shaved off my 8k Norton in the early days. I tried the 16k shapton and was not happy with it's over crisp edge feeling. Getting my grandfathers Coticule combi stone was a huge step up for my shaves. Now I'm testing my Japanese naturals to see if I can give my Coti a rest (Don't want to wear out the Heirloom rock)

I guess what all this boils down to... I like a more Organic (not the over used food word..) approach to my finishing routine...

Just for it being the final finishing stone in my progression makes it a great stone for me.

Solong it's the finest stone I have I don't mind it being slow, ugly or awkward shaped, it's all good

Originally Posted by joke1176

-good feedback: I like my finisher to give good visual, tactile and auditory cues when the edge is "getting good"

-quick finisher: able to take an 8k edge and refine it in a reasonable amount of time, i.e. less than 100-200 passes

-visually pleasing: a boring looking synthetic hone like the Spyderco does nothing for me, but some of the coticules and Japanese stones are works of art of their own.

-consistency: no unpleasant surprises lurking under the surface of the stone as it gets lapped over the course of time.

-face appeal: the most important part, how it feels on my face!!

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 >.>

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.