Thread: What finishing stone should I get....

So I have the Norton 220/1000 4000/8000 combo set and CROX on balsa, I was wondering what a good finishing stone would be, I was eyeing the Nainwa 12k but I read about Coti's and Jnats etc....


What would be a good (Reasonably priced) finishing stone for a newbie that I can also use for touch ups?

Thanks in advance!!

I'd get a 12k Super stone and learn to use it to full potential before even thinking about Jnats/coticules /eschers etc.
Synthetics are much less tricky than naturals, and you will only benefit if you first master them.

The Naniwa SS 12K works fine for me. You'll eventually get other stones, because it sounds like you're headed that way, but you won't really need them.

Originally Posted by mcgyver74

I was eyeing the Nainwa 12k but I read about Coti's and Jnats etc....
What would be a good (Reasonably priced) finishing stone for a newbie that I can also use for touch ups?

Compared to a coticule 8x3 inch @ $400 to $450 and ? On jnats, and Escher in the $400 to $500 range and all the others around the $300 plus range, a 12k Naniwa at $72.00 gets pretty reasonable. My 12k Naniwa sees a lot more use than the coticules and gives an excellent finish. I usually touch up on the Norton 8k and Naniwa 12k, and recently added the Shapton 16k, not that it was necessary, but just because I had it.
Happy Honing,
Howard

Naniwa 12k here too. Best price/performace ratio, and easiest to use synth finisher period. I am yet to find something that is more foolproof to use as a finisher, even pastes can be more tricky sometimes.

I would suggest the Chinese finishing stone.
I am very satisfied with it.

I'm kind of foolhardy I suppose, but I find the notion that you "need" to learn another synthetic before getting another finisher rather silly. To be perfectly frank, you "should" learn to get really good shaves off your norton combo. Then, after reading people's opinions that you respect, make a decision on what you want and learn it, be it synthetic or natural. Both types of hones have their merits, and ultimately the decision is yours.

I can tell you that my best edges from both types have been equally excellent, but I find naturals to have much more appeal to me. However, it's all moot. If you know how to get an edge from your current setup that shaves really well, this decision will be more about the experience than the results, in my humble opinion.

Good luck

Thanks everyone,

From what I'm reading (and I admit I am a complete NEWB when it comes to this ) I can get a shave ready edge off the 4k/8k stone, but it would be a bit "harsh" which as I understand it is why people go further from there. I have a pasted piece of balsa with Red/Green CrOx that I use for touching up existing blades, but I figure if I can get an inexpensive finishing stone it would make my edges a bit more smooth before I take them to the CrOx. I don't plan to be doing pro honing, I just want to learn how it's done so I can hone my own razors when needed and keep the edges happy for a long time to come.

Sounds like the Nainwa 12k is the right stone for me

Thanks again everyone!

Originally Posted by mcgyver74

Thanks everyone,

From what I'm reading (and I admit I am a complete NEWB when it comes to this ) I can get a shave ready edge off the 4k/8k stone, but it would be a bit "harsh" which as I understand it is why people go further from there. I have a pasted piece of balsa with Red/Green CrOx that I use for touching up existing blades, but I figure if I can get an inexpensive finishing stone it would make my edges a bit more smooth before I take them to the CrOx. I don't plan to be doing pro honing, I just want to learn how it's done so I can hone my own razors when needed and keep the edges happy for a long time to come.

Sounds like the Nainwa 12k is the right stone for me

Thanks again everyone!

That Norton 8000 can get ya a pretty comfortable edge, actually. My favorite razor does it's best straight off of one. Light light light touch toward the end I've found is the key, for me anyway.

+1 to the above. If someone isn't getting a nice shave without any problems off a 8k Norton, than he is doing something wrong. If you use crox afterwards, than that shave will be even better. The equation is not 8k=average shave 12k+ = very good shave, 8k is a nice shave, and the higher grit stones are even better. But only if you even know what a good 8k shave is, if not, than you won't be satisfied with your higher grit finisher.

I have a friend who bought about 10 expensive finishers, Oozukus, eschers, nani 12k, shapton 16k, cotis, etc, and he was searching for a better finisher still. I sent him a nice Puma finished on a Norton 8k, and leather only, and he was surprised what high grit finisher I used for the edge... none. Now he is learning to use his lower grit stones to get a shave off 8k, he understood what we are talking about in every second topic