Thread: Naniwa 12k vs Sigma 13k

Originally Posted by mainaman

tools from japan

Thank you>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have received the hone today.
My first impressions:

Firstly I lapped it with a DMT 325.
It took quite some time, the hone was very far from flat, but that was no worries.

I then honed 7 razors on it.
The feedback was decent, it is harder than the SS from Naniwa, and more porous feeling than Chosera 10K and Gokumyo 20K.
It didn't need any soaking, the water stayed on top of it from the get go.
This was a bit surprising, the porous feel of it did not translate into hungry for water.

One thing that was a bit surprising was the weight of it, it was much lighter than I had expected.
It came glued to a wooden base. Some seems to prefer a base for their hones, I do not.

After studying the scratch-pattern and also a test shave with 3 of the razors, my initial thought is that is does a good job finishing a razor.
I decided to just strop the freshly finished razors on 60/80 on linen and leather.
Usually, my razors gets any one of my naturals before they are considered finished.

3 razors is nothing to judge a hone by, so this is only my very first thoughts and impressions.
I'll give it a dozen or so more, and then I should hopefully have a little more to add about it.

In the meantime, here's a couple pics of it.
The speckled pattern on them was mentioned earlier in the thread, and they can be clearly seen on it. (if my crappy pics will allow it)

I wonder how it shaves comparing to nani 12k? Smoother, harsher? feed us birnando

I have been playing with mine for about 100 razors so far. To me, It feels very similar to the Naniwa SS 12K although not quite as soft. Needed no soaking as already noted. It collects swarf on the same order as both my Naniwa SS 12K and Shapton Glass 16K. So far, I am finding the results very comparable to the both the Naniwa and Shapton Glass. It is a very nice stone and I would have no problem recommending it into your arsenals. Mine looks just like the pictures shown with all the speckles only no base attached.

I am sure it doesn't mean anything beyond the obvious, but the Sigma II 10K stone I got looks almost identical to that as well, and has what I would describe as a very acrid smell.

Thanks for the information on this hone guys. I might just invest in one of these at some point.

James.

Hey Lynn, shaves are similar too? No need to buy if someone has already nani 12 or shapton 16, what do you think? If so I better buying a shoubudani asagi in future.

+1 on Lynn's comments...

I found that this hone likes a nagura...
I tried the nagura from my 10K Chosera...

I have a ten razor rotation and wanted to
give all ten a refresh on the same hone.
In part so I could remember what was honed
last on what.

After honing one I decided to just hone each in
turn without lapping because the hone
is so 'firm'. After about five razors where
the feedback and feel kept improving the
build up of swarf got to the point that a rinse
and rub did not seem enough. Wiping the
surface with the nagura was perfect.

My XXC DMT is a bit coarse and even
a well worn medium DMT did not seem
as good for the surface as the Chosera
nagura once the hone was flat.

Great hone especially with a nagura.
Be gentle with the DMT it does not need
much flattening.

Originally Posted by Ozgun

Hey Lynn, shaves are similar too? No need to buy if someone has already nani 12 or shapton 16, what do you think? If so I better buying a shoubudani asagi in future.

This would work as a prepolisher before the Shoubudani (just like the 12k SS or 16k GS--it's another option beforehand). Assuming your Jnat is a finisher.

From what Lynn is saying, it'd make no sense to use the Shapton & then this as they're very close & basically do the same thing.

I use a surgical black arkansas as my nagura on my nani 12K.

Originally Posted by Ozgun

ok gents, I have nani 12k, and drooling on sigma 13k, so I need some comments if someone have tried them both.

Replying to the original post....
If you have a nani 12k you have a wonderful hone.
If you have a sigma 13k you have a wonderful hone.

If you are in the business like Lynn you need to compare and contrast the two
and will have the touch and experience to make the comparison.
Most of use do not need both... I for one do not need both but I do have them.

If you do not have either I would give a slight nod to the sigma
but they are close enough to equal that the difference for me
is greater in my day to day strop work not the hone.

I am discussing the hone in isolation... I have seen sets of hones
where the discount for the set is a very big incentive.

Ask again in a year.