Thread: Naniwa Watter Hones

I have: the 1k good stone, sometimes a little slow, but descent feed back and will put a great bevel on everything I have taken to it.

2k green "aoto", big stone...very tall, maybe 3-4", gets muddy, and very thirsty, but...that stone sings when you hone on it, and cuts very quickly with the best feedback I have had yet. Love this hone.

8k nice smooth with pretty good feed back, puts a nice polish on the edge too. I could shave off this one if I absolutely had too. Pretty smooth when maxed out

12k like honing on glass, great finisher for me, sharp but refined, I have gone to crox, and straight to stropping, both were thumbs up to me.

My 5k is a shuehiro rika, so that's where the gap above gets filled in at.

I will eventually get a chocera 1k, just because the 1k I have is good, but for blades in need of a lot of care, it can get pretty slow goings.
To your slurry question, go to SRD, Lynn has standard grade coticule bouts, best slurry stone I have ever used! I use it with the 1k by the way

I've only ever used the Naniwa hones. They aren't mine but I'm lucky enough to have a buddy on here that lends them to me whenever I'm itching to remove steel! I do like the stones a fair bit and have used the 1k up to 12k. I do find the hones a little thirsty but they do their job, as advertised, and produce an excellent shaving edge. The stones also lap very easily so there isn't a 'requirement' for a fancy expensive dmt or lapping plate. I simply throw a big sheet of the 3m garnet sand paper on my ceramic stove top surface and voila!
For the price, they seem pretty reasonable! When I save up enough $$$ i'm going to buy a set of shaptons so my buddy and I can play with those and see if there is any difference!
I can't see the average straight razor user needing anything more than these hones!

I have never used naniwas, but everything I read about these stones is positive. Right now I use an old king 1k, Norton 4/8, dmt 1micron diamond paste, and crox. Works well. When I have to replace any of these steps, it will be with naniwas. For the price I think these stones are the way to go. Just my 2cents.

Naniwa SS's were what my honing mentor recommended for me to start with. I had a full set and used them until I became more fond of another brand, but I only tried another brand of stones after truly learning the set and was proficient at honing. I actually sold the set to a member here from Canada IIRC. My opinion of them is that they are great for a beginner, just as my honing mentor said years ago. I'm not much of a fan of slurry after 3k, but it really does help to remove steel when setting the bevel. For the price, you just can't beat them.

Lastly, if someone with the honing experience of Lynn makes a recommendation to you...don't question it, just do it. Later on while you are "doing it" your questions will be answered for you. I know it's in our human nature to question, but when it comes to learning to hone from veteran advice...JUST DO IT.

Just got the naniwa ss 1k & 12k to replace my king 1k and chineese natural 12k and im lovin them I dont need to make anywhere near as many laps on the 12k. Also the 1k isnt as soft.though the 12k is thirstier than my chineese and softer it stilldoes a perfect job in less than 1/2 the time. The 1k is just as quick if not quicker takes way less watter and has harder surface, doesn't wear as quickly as the king 1k. All in all im extremely happy with my purchase. Thanks SRD ur the best

It's a brand new stone remember, give it some time before you make up your mind, it won't act new forever

Still lovin the naniwas. The only thing id change about my statements is that I prefer using my king 220-1k for restorations