Thread: Honing feel: Norton vs Naniwa

Originally Posted by jeness

Thank you very much, I was waiting for a post like this. That means I can buy the norton without hesitation. I will use it before a vintage very hard coti, after reaching a positive shave test off the 8k.

Hey, that's what I do

I interchange these stones a lot in my daily honing. Usually I start with the Chosera 1K, followed by either the Norton 4K/8K combo or Naniwa Super Stone 5K and 8K stones. These are then followed by either my Escher, Asagi, Ohzuku or Naniwa 12K Superstone. They all are producing excellent results and I don't think there is a bad choice here. If you wanted, you could add the Shapton Glass 4K, 8K or 16K into the mix and still produce consistent and reliable results.

I soak the Norton in a pitcher of water for 15 minutes and I spray water on the Naniwa's a couple times until the water stays on the surface vs. soaking in. The Naniwa stones are a little softer feeling. The Norton 4K is a little more grainy feeling. I lap the swarf off all of them except for the naturals at about every dozen razors honed.

Have fun,

Lynn

For clarity, there is a difference between the Naniwa waterstones and the Naniwa Superstones (as well as Chosera).

If the 3k talked about above is one of these: Naniwa Japanese Waterstone or is the 1k/3k combo with the same stone, it is not the same quality as the Superstones. That may be where some of the confusion comes from...

I find the SuperStones to be very pleasant to hone on. I love the feedback they give. That is a personal preference thing.

No matter what hones you get, if they are quality hones and you take the time to learn to use them properly, they'll deliver great results. It's the learning, more than the hones, that really makes the difference.

Originally Posted by HNSB

For clarity, there is a difference between the Naniwa waterstones and the Naniwa Superstones (as well as Chosera).

If the 3k talked about above is one of these: Naniwa Japanese Waterstone or is the 1k/3k combo with the same stone, it is not the same quality as the Superstones. That may be where some of the confusion comes from...

What is the quality difference between the two? Any functional difference (in terms of resulting edge, speed, consistency, etc.)?