Originally Posted by
Lynn
I really do think the from a shaving perspective, the Sigma is very close to the Naniwa 12K and Shapton Glass 16K. I believe all three are excellent finishers. I like the feel of the Naniwa a lot, but I enjoy the results of the other two just as much. The Sigma is still a soft stone to me, while the Shapton definitely feels like a ceramic. The biggest problem that I see people have with the Naniwas, is that they soak them too much. They just need a few spritzes to quit drinking water on the higher grit stones and they are good to go. The Sigma and Shapton are ready to go with the first spritz. Which of these three to own or use will really boil down to personal preference. I fixed that for me by using all three. I have a few Asagi's too, but I normally don't use them after these stones. For me, it's more than an either or. I will use the Asagi after sometimes though if I am just tinkering with an edge.
Have fun