Thread: Finishers

Hey SRP members, just had a question about types of finishing stones. More specifically, naturals vs synthetics (eg 16k Shapton and the like). I have a C12k, which I quite like for some blades, but I find it too "sticky" for others and I would like to try something else.

My question is, would all the naturals perform the same on the same steel and a synthetic would be better or are all naturals totally different?

Kind of a dumb question I guess as obviously naturals are different by their very 'nature'

Hi

Can you be more precise? I'm not entirely certain what you are asking.

My impression from using Shapton 15k pro, Naniwa 12k versus Eschers, coticules, Hohenzollerns, Charnley Forrest or Chinese 12k is that the naturals give me an edge that feels a bit smoother. It is a very subtle difference IME. OTOH, I love the edge I can get with the Naniwa 12k or the Shap pro 15k. It also depends on the razor. Some lend themselves to coming up to speed more with one than the other.

You're right, naturals do vary a lot! When one guys says he does 200 laps on his J-Nat, another guy might only do 100. And they also leave different feeling edges on a razor as well.

You could hone the same razor on two different naturals and it would probably feel quite different on the skin.

Synthetics are good because they are predictable and you know exactly what grit you're getting, but they also are different brand to brand. I find that the Naniwa stones leave a softer feeling edge on a razor than the Shaptons for example.

As to whether synthetics are better or worse than naturals; Neither. They're just different and its all down to personal taste and what you like in an edge.

When I started honing I got a set of Shaptons, which I really like. But then the more razors I got, I found that the edges felt different. So I'd go back to the guy who honed it and ask what stones they used.

Naniwa came up a lot so I got a set of them, then I got a coticule because I wanted to try a natural finisher. Then I got a DD that Dylan honed, and he used an Asagi, so then I got my J-Nat. I'd also heard really good things about Charnley Forest hones, so I snagged one on eBay to try, and they make great finishers.

This is how HAD goes..! You try one thing, like it, but wonder what else is out there. Then you get a razor with an edge you really like, ask the honer what they used and then get the hone they used... And so it goes on! I dare say if I ever try a razor thats been finished on an escher I'll be out there bankrupting myself on eBay trying to get one..!

Hopefully my ramblings have been of some help..!

EDIT: I never did actually say what I like! My ultimate honing set up is 1/3/8/12k Naniwas followed by my Nakayama Maruichi. That gives me a wonderfully sharp but smooth/soft edge, and it really is a velvet squeegee effect when you shave.

I really like the CF and coticule, but the J-Nat really is just unbelieveably good and I end up using that 90% of the time.

Muchos Gracias fellas. I know it really is a tough question to answer. I can definitely see how HAD goes... Lord knows I had RAD before I even knew what the definition was.

I suppose the only way to truly find the right stone is to try several and see, too bad the costs can get out of hand.

It would be nice if something like the 'pass it forward' that happens with razors doesn't happen with stones... or does it?

Obviously I have heard great things about Eschers but they are mighty hard to come by and I wouldn't expect someone to loan one out. I guess you can't really lose money on a good hone if you buy it and it turns out you don't care for it.

Cheers

Just a few years ago most guys either used the Norton 4K/8K and maybe a Coticule or Escher for finishing or guys used pasted strops or some used barbers hones and everybody was happy. Now there are many choices which serves to confuse and I don't know that guys are happier because now they are in a neverending search for the ultimate edge and the ultimate hone.

To someone starting out I would say get the classics and then go from there. Personally I'm an old rockhound so I favor naturals however I have both and in the end they all work. It's just one of those things you have to investigate for yourself and find your own path.