Thread: The best finishing stone

Honestly any recommendation other than the Synthetics are pretty much useless anyway, Maybe the Eschers because they were a graded stone when they were sold, so you would be able to at least match a recommendation if you have the money...

Think about what I just said carefully, if I tell you my Chinese 12k (PHIG) is my best finisher it would be hard for you to duplicate what I have, I know for a fact that there are at least 4 different types of stones sold as all the same, only one type is really outstanding for razors... Coticules and Thuringens are in the same boat, I know mine finish good, but I can't say the same for yours... Japanese stones are even worse trying to get the right one... The British stones are fairly consistent but hard to come by...
And as stated above, the real magic is in the hands anyway, as any of these stones, don't make you any better it works the other way around

Here is something I can tell you that I believe to be true, any time I have a finicky razor nowadays, those that are prone to micro-chipping, harshness, or just plain a pain to get right, I go straight to my Naniwa SS's they seem to sort out those razors.. Easy razors it doesn't much matter they hone good on any stone if I do my part...

So IMHO Best to me means "The most consistent results, on the most types of razors" so in my eyes the best are the Naniwas, Shaptons, and the Nortons in that order... It doesn't much matter that the best shave that has every crossed my face was done on my Nakyama Midori Tomae Nashiji because it ain't for sale, and good luck finding it's twin

For me the best finishing stone is Nakayama Uchigomori Suita. This polishing stone is very smooth.

Well, maybe there is more potential to achieve the best edge possible via pastes now than via hones. I don't think anyone will make a finer grit hone than the Shapton 30k any time soon, but there are various pastes and sprays that are much finer than any hone out there. I don't say they are better, I haven't tryed them, they are just finer.

Originally Posted by ace

If I had to pick just one hone for finishing and stick with it, it would be the Naniwa SS 12K. I have a Shapton 16K and a 30K, and the Naniwa has just about made them obsolete.

The Shapton GS system 1-30K is an absolutely fine system, but you have to have the rest of them to make the 16 & 30K shine. I have both the Naniwa SS & Shapton GS system and there is absolutely no way the Naniwa system is any better...period.

This is impossible to answer, especially if you are talking about naturals. I own quite a few coticules and know them pretty well now to say that each of them provide a different finish. I can shave with finishes from them all, but certain stones of mine leave a better finish than others. I own a vintage thuringian that will leave a more keen edge than any of my coticules (while staying smooth), which I kept in place of an escher I once owned because it was better than the escher. If I buy another vintage thuringian it could possibly be only as good as a coticule. You never know with naturals. I probably lucked out on the thuringian as it is excellent.

Also, you have to consider that each person is going to prefer something different for their faces. Someone with a super sensitive face that only can shave every couple of days may consider a coticule the best finisher as they tend to be gentler on the face. Someone with wire barb whiskers may need a shapton 30K edge or diamond pasted edge before they would consider it best for their face.

Best finisher for me is probably my thuringian, but I shave quite often on coticule edges as they work fine. I cannot even comment on synthetics as I don't use them, but the general consensus is that a Naniwa 10K or 12K is probably everything you will ever need.

Originally Posted by ace

If I had to pick just one hone for finishing and stick with it, it would be the Naniwa SS 12K. I have a Shapton 16K and a 30K, and the Naniwa has just about made them obsolete.

Me too. I use the Shapton 16k as a stepping stone only, a means to an end. I never like them much on there own. I found them to be a bit harsh.
That's me, Ymmv.....

The finishing stone which you don't own yet.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

The finishing stone which you don't own yet.

+1
If you have HAD, this sentence will be true until you find a cure

My favorite finisher is Sham, so...whatever he chooses at that moment.

I can't add anything to the responses that you have already had except my own preference which only echoes many, the YG Escher. It is my most consistent and never fails.

Note that it is more the hand than the hone. The best finisher is useless in the hands of he who does not know how to use it, or it will improve an edge very little otherwise. Unless your edge is shave ready off an 8K, it will contribute nothing.