Thread: just got Naniwa 12k

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Many people make that claim because they mistakenly think that the Norton is on the American grit system and the Naniwa is on the Japanese one...
Both are actually rated on the Japanese standard I personally think those grit charts are a detriment to honing

Glen
I often wondered, is the Japanese grit chart based on metirc sized screens while the American screens are based on the english tables? Alx

Originally Posted by gary haywood

i've heard that 8k norton is as gooda shave that 6k delivers. i never shaved of 6k. I spoke to bob keyes about the nortons. he hones every thing with them. I have brough lots of razors from him. they all shaved nice and plenty smooth enough. He finishers after 8k on a 12k kitiyama synthetic. which is now rated 8k or 10k. he say s the kitiyama makes the tiniest differance over 8k norton. thats all just the tiniest. he says the differance is just enough to tell. i think e uses no more than 20 laps on his finisher.

I've found the kitayama hone to be a sub-par finisher. Its feedback is inconsistent with water only - some spots on the stone will feel smooth as glass, then you'll get to a spot which seems to "catch" your edge. This was a repeating theme, even after multiple lappings, and several honed razors.

Well I've recently bought a Naniwa 12K too, my initial results were poor but that was because it wasn't properly lapped and the bevel of razor I was working on was only 97% of the way there. Tonight I lapped the stone properly and sorted out the bevel. I used a little slurry on the 12K, coming off a 6K stone, then finished on just water.

I've stropped and done a HHT and its much better than I usually get with a coticule or c12K, looking forward to the shave later.

I also own a Naniwa 12k (and 5k and 8k) and was wondering if people soak their stones before lapping (if so, how long?)? I've only tried honing once and managed to put several gashes in the stones. I tried lapping the stone under my tap afterwards but most of my "mistakes" are still clearly visibile. Appreciate any advice.

As I understand it Naniwas are not intended to be soaked just to have water put on them, that said but many people do submerge them for a couple of minutes before use.

I've only used mine a couple of times but preferred it having been dunked for a few minutes rather than spraying water on top which seemed to be absorbed quite quickly.

I spray it with enough water, let it soak for about 5 mins, and lap it after, this worked for me the best.