Thread: Shapton vs Naniwa

I had a complete set of Shapton GS stones. One of the things guys like about the Shaptons is the way they let you know that you're done with that particular grit; the abrasive sensation tends to go away, and the blade feels like it is getting sucked to the surface of the stone. The honing sensation, the way the blade gets sucked to the stone, and the way the water changes how it rolls in front of the edge as it's moved down the hone let you know that yup, it's time to move to the next grit.

That's not to say that the quality of the edge from a Shapton 4k is going to be any better than a Norton 4k, it's just the way the hone feels as your using it is so nice.

To me, hones are like cars: they'll all get you to the destination. Some just have a nicer ride along the way than others.

The thing I like Shaptons lower grits is that they don't go out of shape so easily as other stones while still cutting very quick. Having said that, the 1k stone would be as low as I would go for a razor in bad shape.

Shaptons are relatively very hard and produce very flat bevel shape, and for some harsher finish

That´s a very bold thing to say, right there.
This is a theory, I guess?

Wouldn´t that make for really harsh edges on superhard J-Nat Nakayamas?

I´ve been using the Shapton GS set for awhile now and compared the 30k
thoroughly to my Nakayama Kiita and must say they are both just absolutely over the top.
I don´t think one could actually say "shaptons produce harsh edges".
I stick with the saying honers produce harsh edges

I have owned a complete (except for the 12k) Naniwa Super set,
currently own a almost complete Shapton Pro set, and a close enough to say it is complete Glass Set including the 30k.

The Pro 12k and GS 16/30k are not easy stones to use.
Whereas the Superstone 10k gives a perfect edge almost no matter what you do,
the Shaptons can be really bitchy but will get you where you want to go.
All of the stones mentioned are very good in all ranges.
There´s hardly a setup I would not recommend.

Just choose and be happy (and curious about the other sets, of course)

Food for thought; when I had my only shapton, the 16K, I didn't like it at all. The edge felt very harsh and chippy when I used it.

Now this may very well be my inexperience with the hone but I never have this on my stones, not even Hard Nakayama and Oozukus. I have taken more time learning these other stones over the Shapton which I think may have lead to these problems.

Food for thought.

I have a full set of Shapton GS, Naniwa Super, Naniwa Chosera, Norton and a variety of natural finishing stones and barber hones. I got ride of my Shapton Pro's and Kityama and King's a while ago, although I have a bunch of individual hones hanging around. All of these stones that I currently am using can produce pretty credible edges on their own, but I still like the 10 strokes of .5 micron diamond spray on felt as my final finish before stropping. All of these stones have their own feedback characteristics.

I love going off each set of stones to different finishers including the Naniwa Super Stone 12K, Nakayama Kiita, Asagi, Ohzuku (the stone, not the mine), Escher, Coticule, Charnley Forest and even a Chinese 12K. All produce very nice edges. Some a little more coarse than others. Some a with a little less consistency than others. The Chosera 10K for me is always a relatively coarser finish, but a little CrOx helps here. Yes you can finish a razor on a barber hone, but I have found them to be the least consistent of all my hones. When they hit though, they can be nice.

Actually, if you like to play, start experimenting with changing to different hones throughout your processes. In addition, I recommend playing with using your naturals after bevel setting to hone a razor from start to finish.

Bottom line is that I'm not sure what is better. I find so much personal preference involved and certainly your skill levels comes into play in a large manner here. The more I see zealots proclaiming any particular hone, the more I personally feel the motivation is not about honing or helping people to find enjoyment and success in this art.

I find that the more I experiment and I hone a ton of razors almost every single day of my life, the more I continue to learn.

Have fun,

Lynn