Thread: What really is the best Finish Hone on the Planet ????

Here are some rambling thoughts on why this is always such a hot topic..

First let me start by saying this, I either own or have at least tried way more hones then most, and way less then some...

From naturals to the Shapton 30k

Now let's purpose a test here:

Take one common Solingen made razor, and make it shave ready on say the Norton 1-4-8 then each day change the finish..

First day is the Norton 8k
next day we add a Coticule
next day we use a Thuringen
next day a Naniwa 10-12
next a Shapton 16-30
next an Escher
the next a Ch12
a Charlney Forest
a Arkansas super fine
a Japanese natural (OMG which one)
A Spyderco Ultra follows that
and
and
and


At the end of 2-3 weeks I say ok the best shave was X hone I tried them all and that is the conclusion..
Is that a true test of the hones???? Nope not even close, heck we didn't even use some of the hones correctly...

So now we change it and add in a few razors
a Sheffield wedge
a Spanish Filarmonica
an American steel hollow
A Swede
a TI
a Japanese razor
and
and
and

Now at the end of 1 year I say well I tested all the razors on all the hones and X hone is the best...

Was that an accurate test???? Nope, because all it told me was what my face liked so now we have to test everyones face on all the razors on all the hones and guess what the conclusion is????

Yep, that's right, quite a few different opinions out there
and that my friends is why on every single thread that we discuss this, all you ever really get is people's own favorite stone, just a simple opinion...

It makes for good discussion, but really it is all just personal opinion...

So in closing I must say that although there are tons of opinions on what to use, always remember that they are just that and nothing more... It is only your own face, that can ever decide what the best finishing hone is on the planet...


Now in my humble opinion that stone is.....................................


Heck personally I think the lower end of the spectrum is way more important anyway the bevel set to the sharpen stage...

Similiar to "What is the best razor!??!!??" questions.

The best is whatever works for you.

Nice post glen.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Here are some rambling thoughts on why this is always such a hot topic..

First let me start by saying this, I either own or have at least tried way more hones then most, and way less then some...

From naturals to the Shapton 30k

Now let's purpose a test here:

Take one common Solingen made razor, and make it shave ready on say the Norton 1-4-8 then each day change the finish..

First day is the Norton 8k
next day we add a Coticule
next day we use a Thuringen
next day a Naniwa 10-12
next a Shapton 16-30
next an Escher
the next a Ch12
a Charlney Forest
a Arkansas super fine
a Japanese natural (OMG which one)
A Spyderco Ultra follows that
and
and
and


At the end of 2-3 weeks I say ok the best shave was X hone I tried them all and that is the conclusion..
Is that a true test of the hones???? Nope not even close, heck we didn't even use some of the hones correctly...

So now we change it and add in a few razors
a Sheffield wedge
a Spanish Filarmonica
an American steel hollow
A Swede
a TI
a Japanese razor
and
and
and

Now at the end of 1 year I say well I tested all the razors on all the hones and X hone is the best...

Was that an accurate test???? Nope, because all it told me was what my face liked so now we have to test everyones face on all the razors on all the hones and guess what the conclusion is????

Yep, that's right, quite a few different opinions out there
and that my friends is why on every single thread that we discuss this, all you ever really get is people's own favorite stone, just a simple opinion...

It makes for good discussion, but really it is all just personal opinion...

So in closing I must say that although there are tons of opinions on what to use, always remember that they are just that and nothing more... It is only your own face, that can ever decide what the best finishing hone is on the planet...


Now in my humble opinion that stone is.....................................


Heck personally I think the lower end of the spectrum is way more important anyway the bevel set to the sharpen stage...

Are we allowed to google the answer?

In my opinion the second test is more valuable, there is this thing called "marriage" between steel and stone. Not all steels are going to behave similarly on one stone, the question is which stone of the myriad of finishers will give most consistent results with most steels used for razors? The one condition I feel needs to be kept constant is the stone progression before the finisher. I am not sure how variation in tempering of the same steel will affect the results, if at all.

Good post Glen!

But everyone knows the best finisher is the hone you dont have yet...!

Cool topic Glen. As you and the posters who followed said, it is a matter of personal opinion and. if I may say so, isn't carved in stone. (pun intended) For some months now the yellow green escher has been my finisher of choice. I've got the Naniwa SS, Shapton pro up to 15 & 30k, charnley, and a good one, coticules and others. No J-nats but I have aspirations if the economy ever bounces back. All that said, next week or next month one of the other choices might be my favorite. Note that I'm saying favorite rather than best on purpose. I don't know about best. They are all good IME.

Originally Posted by Stubear

Good post Glen!

But everyone knows the best finisher is the hone you dont have yet...!

HA !!!!! oh so true,,, the promise of the unknown hehehe

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Cool topic Glen. As you and the posters who followed said, it is a matter of personal opinion and. if I may say so, isn't carved in stone. (pun intended) For some months now the yellow green escher has been my finisher of choice. I've got the Naniwa SS, Shapton pro up to 15 & 30k, charnley, and a good one, coticules and others. No J-nats but I have aspirations if the economy ever bounces back. All that said, next week or next month one of the other choices might be my favorite. Note that I'm saying favorite rather than best on purpose. I don't know about best. They are all good IME.

Jimmy Man it was you, Lynn, Randy, and Sham, that I was thinking about when I added the line "and way less than some" hehehe

Spot on Glen!!!

The ME factor will always be a variable both in technique and the feeling of the shave.

This is such a fun Sport!

Lynn

Well, I'm way over my head in this company, but I agree the lower grit stones and bevel setting are the key to a sharp edge. I've proven such to myself more times than I care to admit. I must be a slow learner.

As to which finisher is the best, I again agree that it is the one that provides the final edge and shave you like on a particular razor.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Here are some rambling thoughts on why this is always such a hot topic..

First let me start by saying this, I either own or have at least tried way more hones then most, and way less then some...
...big snip...

Good post....

One thing that I have discovered is that sharp is
not key -- the shave it. I have found that
abrasive film ending up with 0.3 micron is just too
sharp and gives me nicks not unlike a Feather
is harsh. However by stropping with a light hand
on CrOx or CeOx that harshness can be reduced
and the shave improved.

So to add to Glenn's list there needs to be some
consideration on the strop. A second thing I have
discovered is that care while stropping is fully
as important as the final hone and from Norton 8K
and finer the shave depends ultimately on the strop
and the face being shaved.

I like to think that I am making the edge strop
ready when honing. The more I read from the
honemasters the more I notice their comments
with regard to final stropping. Stropping is
never discussed in cap letters but is so often
mentioned...

Which is a long winded way of saying that we must
include the finishing strop in this.

And then the day in day out strop comes to play too.