Some Naniwa love

Every once in a while, I discover something about honing that turns it from a pleasure into a real joy.

I recently broke down and purchased the SRD Naniwa "Value Set," mostly because I have a Chandler SS that refused to respond to any of my naturals (cotis, Thurris, Nakayamas) for a final finish. I read somewhere on these fora that SS appreciates high grit synthetic finishers.

Long story short, 20 X strokes on the 12K and it was HHT4 all along the blade. Shaved with it this AM. No longer a "decent" shaver, but an outstanding one.

I also took another (carbon) razor I'd been struggling with. Bevel set, I just did 20 half-strokes and 20 X strokes on my 2K (previously purchased), then my new 5K, 8K, and 12K stones. Since I hadn't yet shaved with the Chandler and thought I might not like the feel of the 12K finish, I did 40 on a Thurri. Again, HHT4 everywhere (this invariably correlates with a great shave for me). Will shave tomorrow with it.

The feel off the 12K, by the way, amazed me. I expected it to be too harsh for me, but honestly it felt as soft as my usual blades finished on a coti or Thurri.

I know it's early innings and all, but at the moment I'm thinking that this is the best hone-related purchase I ever made. It almost feels like I'm cheating....

:tu

I like saying "I told ya so" on this one hehehehe

:beer1:

The Naniwa SS are great hones, my workhorses. From time to time, I'll hone a blade for a member, 9x out of 10, it's on the Naniwa's. Most recently using Glen's system, which works wonderfully by the way, I get rave review's. Recently, I did a blade for an exchange student visiting Jacksonville from Belgium. He was ready to give up. He was so pleased with the blade, that he sent me a box of Belgian Chocolate when he got back home...

Wow, belgian chocolate and you didn't share? :D

I too use the ss set as my major go to honing system. It works when nothing else does. Add Glen's system to the mix and it just plain works.

I think most of you know that i am learning to hone my razors (all two of em) and you guys have given me great help. I have stones up to the Norton 8K. Would the 12K SS be a good next stone for me to get and to use it after the Norton 8K
Thanks Glenn

I think that it would be a great finisher after the norton 8k. I would suggest you wait until after the Yakima meet. gssixgun tends to travel with a case that weighs more than many can lift and I'm sure he will let you play with a few finishers.

Outstanding cant wait, hope my honing does not cause unrecoverable embaresment to myself though

You should have seen me one year ago!

I too have taken a stone from the naniwas to a coticule, but I tried Robert Williams method of diamond spray a while ago and I have to say that I took it back to the naniwas after to get a comfortable edge.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

:tu

I like saying "I told ya so" on this one hehehehe

:beer1:

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Yes, Glen has been vey helpful in this step, as well as many earlier ones. Many thanks.

However (and I hate to admit this) I must have missed his Naniwa honing method (thought I'd read all 10,188 posts!) Can anyone point me to it??

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/fo...a-users-5.html

nearly the last post

If you do not have any else (stone set) than Naniwa you are the Naniwa guy. I have 1, 5 and 8K. And soon I will have the 12K too :D
Those feels and works well. I have understand those are good for the newbies and also those are good for the gurus too. I have Chinese12k, but I have not become a good friend with it. Maybe it is too hard stone to me and my skills? I read in other topic, a softer stone is more forgiving than a harder, it was posted by gssixgun.
It was very easy to do purchase decision because I have other Naniwas. So I decided to get 12k and test if it is so good as you are praising it.

Now i put the stones to water. Then I read a bedtime story and after that going to have a honing sessio.

Now i put the stones to water. Then I read a bedtime story and after that going to have a honing sessio.[/QUOTE]

If you mean you are soaking the Naniwas prior to honing, I do not think that is recommended. Just spray or spread some water over the hone immediately before, and start honing. Oh, and lap these stones prior to use. they are not flat from the manufacturer.

Yes, I am soaking them. Because watched this: Naniwa Progression: by gssixgun Scroll down a bit you will found the Naniwa videos.

There seems to be different approaches to a working habits. It does not matter main thing it to get a sharp edge. And laping is ofcourse very important step.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pcb01

Now i put the stones to water. Then I read a bedtime story and after that going to have a honing sessio.

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If you mean you are soaking the Naniwas prior to honing, I do not think that is recommended. Just spray or spread some water over the hone immediately before, and start honing. Oh, and lap these stones prior to use. they are not flat from the manufacturer.[/QUOTE]



You are correct

Soaking is NOT recommended,

However there seems to be a little, "stabilization" factor that is a bit off with the Naniwas...

What seems to be going on is that the binder is "flexing" or "expanding" for a for lack of a better term and that you can do a ton of un-necessary lapping chasing the stones to flat because of that change...

If you drop the next stone in water when you are honing it "stabilizes" the binder and you have a much flatter surface to start with and much less lapping... Some people just spray the next stone in the sequence while they are honing...

In practice I toss in the 1k while I am taping the razor and getting set up, then when I take it out to hone, I toss in the 3k and continue that sequence throughout honing...

So perhaps "soaking" is the wrong word when compared to Norton or Ch12k "soaking" so call it pre-wetting :D :D

Ok,
no soaking a long time. Only a moment before honing.

I got it wrong, thanks for the correction.

It really doesn't take much with the Nani 12k - somewhere in the range of 10-20 laps and she's good to go. Always provides me with an extra sharp yet comfortable edge.

One of the best investments in hones I ever made....

I just used the 5-8-12 progression on my next blade, a Union Cutlery. About 10 minutes start to finish. The straightest, sharpest, shiniest bevel I have ever honed. This no longer feels like cheating, it feels like I won the lottery.