Thread: What makes final finishing stone Great stone?

What makes final finishing stone Great stone in your Mind?'
What are you looking for or what you want from it?

i tried express as much as i can . i hope question is clear.
GL

The answer for me is how the final edge feels on my face. If the razor is sharp enough to shave me comfortably, I'm satisfied with that part, and I will gravitate towards the hone that combines "sharp enough" with very comfortable. I don't care for razors that are harsh or prone to giving me nicks when I make a slight mis-stroke.

Originally Posted by richmondesi

The answer for me is how the final edge feels on my face. If the razor is sharp enough to shave me comfortably, I'm satisfied with that part, and I will gravitate towards the hone that combines "sharp enough" with very comfortable. I don't care for razors that are harsh or prone to giving me nicks when I make a slight mis-stroke.

+1,
only sharp is not what is it about for me.

final edge for me has to be nice and smooth and soft on my skin

It has to have a label underneath that says Escher and one on the end that says Yellow Green or gelbgrun.

Smooooooooooooth....

-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 >.>