Thread: the best synthetic finnishing stone

in your opinion gent's what is the best synthetic finnishing stone i heard the kitayama 8000 was great any opinions thanks

The Shapton 30k is pretty good.

If you ask for the very best synthetic, regardless of price and usefullness,
I would definitely go for the Shapton Glass 30k (I have not tested the Pro, but hear equally as good things)

The Gs 30k is absolutely over the top. Better than any synthetic I have used.
But do you really need one? No way.

You suggest the Kitayama 8.000, so I think you´re thinking about realy usefull synthetic finishers.
There are a couple of finishers that have exceedingly good finishing capabilities, totaly enough for anyone who likes sharp, smooth edges.

These are Shapton Glas 16k, Shapton Pro 12k, Naniwa Superstone 12k.
All of these are affordable and give you very, very good edges.
You will not need anything else.

Personally I can recommend the Naniwa Super 10k, as well.
But you should finish with a 0,5 Diamond or Chromiumoxide paste afterwards,
for really smooth results

Well, there isn't a best finishing hone in general but I lean towards the naniwa 12k as a synthetic finisher.
Using the slurry technique and diluting to water with light strokes really helps smooth the edge, I dig it.

I know you really don't want to hear what I have to say,,,

It depends on the razor, and your hands...

Give me a NY Extreme Hollow Grind and many Solingen razors and a set of Shaptons and I will give you the most wickedly sharp edge you can put on a razor and Silky smoothness, combined

Take the same set of stones and a Sheffield wedge and the edge will but Good but not Great, it would need tweaking after the stones to be more comfortable..

Personally, I find that the Naniwa SS are the most all around Synthetics and if I had to chose one set to hone all the razors I hone, that would be the one set with a 12k finish.. Note I did not say best, I said plays well with the most steels

Your hands come into play with the stones too.. The harder the surface to better the touch needs to be, the softer the surface the the more forgiving it is..


Again like most things in this hobby YMMV, and in asking for opinions normally you get whatever stone somebody likes for their razors, their face, and their honing style...

I've don't have the glass stones to compare but I do have the Shapton pro 15 and 30k. To be honest when using the Shaptons I most often stopped at the 15k. The 30k is nice though if you want to go for the $. You still need the 15 or 16 level to precede it though IMHO. The Naniwa 12k Superstone is awfully nice IME. Leaves me a very comfortable shaving edge equal to the shap 15k to my face. Never had any experience with the kitayama 8000 but the Norton 8k will give you a good edge to shave with if your whiskers and skin are anything like mine. I hear the Chosera 10k is great but it costs a pretty penny too.

I agree with Glen and Jimmy; the Naniwa SS 12k is a very versatile hone, cuts fast, and works well on a lot of different steel.

I would say the Naniwa 12k as well, used with a slight slurry if you like. Thats the best I've used so far..!

Hi Jimmy,

I often heard you say you stop at Pro 12k even if you have the choice to go up to the 30k. Is there any special reason for that?

Originally Posted by Lesslemming

Hi Jimmy,

I often heard you say you stop at Pro 12k even if you have the choice to go up to the 30k. Is there any special reason for that?

I sold the pro 12k. Found out that is identical to the 15k which I kept. Apparently the 12k is supposed to be a Japan only product. Yes there is a reason for my stopping at the 15k level. I felt that it was good enough at the 15k. Things change though. As time passed and I tried various finishers I found that I liked the feel of the edge coming off of my Eschers better than that off of the 15k, the coticule or any other stone. Not necessarily sharper than that off of a 15k but more pleasing to me personally. So now more often than not I finish on one of a couple of Eschers and stop there.

Every now and again I will 'push the envelope' with the 15 and then the 30k but rarely. As I said, things change, and I might be using any one of a few finishers as my mood changes. There are also some razors that give me fits. An S30V custom for example. Trying to dial it in I've tried various combinations including finishing on the 30k. I've gotten it to shave well but not quite as well as I like so I keep trying.