Thread: Naniwa SS 12k vs Shapton GS 16k: Which one to buy?

Originally Posted by jeness

Good advice here! The general consensus is that for new people the 12k Naniwa is better than the 16k Shapton. Being less agressive and softer, it is easier to get nice edges with it in the beginning.

Well, considering that I'm far from being an honemeister I'll probably go for the softer naniwa
Being softer I can also spare the money for the lapping stone and I'll continue with the sandpaper as I do for the norton. In the future I'll probably need a proper lapping stone, but I'd rather spend that money on a new razor than on a lapping stone as long as I can continue with the old plain sandpaper

Originally Posted by Furcifer

Just to help push you back the other way and add to your indecision, I love my Shapton 16K. I also use a Norton 220/1000 and 4K/8K for the progression. I also have a Norton lapping stone, but I got that before I found out that most here use a DMT 325. Oh well, I'm doing fine, even though it takes a bit more breaking in and work to get the Norton 4K/8K stones flattened.

Back to the Shapton 16K - it just feels insanely expensive, like something you should carry in the inside pocket of your Armani tuxedo. It finishes very well, and as fine as it is, you can still change your results greatly with a change in pressure. Generally, start with more pressure and then lighten up as you go. You can see the metal coming off against the white surface and it's certainly fine enough for touching up a razor, much like a barber hone, but all you need is a little water - you don't need to drown it like the Nortons. So, it's a little handier to pull out for touch-ups than other water stones.

Furcifer, what do you use to lap the Shapton? The Norton lapping stone? One of my concern is actually on what I need to lap it. As for now I don't have a lapping stone, and with such an hard stone I don't know how sandpaper can lap it properly...

Sandpaper will be fine for the naniwa too, you don't really need a 325 DMT if you don't hone a lot.

I have both the Naniwa SS 12K and the Shapton 16K, as well as the Shapton 30K. I lap them all with my DMT 325 with fine results. If I was lapping the Naniwa with sandpaper, I might try to finish it off with a 1000 grit sandpaper.

Ok,

the Naniwa 12k won the selection

I placed an order yesterday, together with a Naniwa 1k for bevel setting. Unfortunately the vendor is closed until the 2nd of January, and there was also a problem during the order, but I'll have that fixed next week and the hones should be here in a couple of weeks.

I'm looking forward to getting them... I touched up my razor on the nortons, yesterday, it shaves pretty well, but I feel it too harsh; I really want to retouch the blade on the 12k as soon as it comes in.

The next step will be to buy a new strop and paste it with Crox, but that will have to wait a few more months...

Originally Posted by dzacca

I'd love to read feedbacks from a few users

I also have the naniwa ss 1k and 12k with the norton 4k-8k. I love the naniwas they aren't too soft, it doesn't require much pressure when lapping. they actually hold up pretty good, but I have 4 razors and I have experimented with how maney razors can be honed before lapping and with me 2-3 razors works depending on condition. 4 razor's if all are in good shape but if you have 2 with frown or are overhoned on toe or heel, 2 before having to lap and that's with verry light pressure while honing.(takes longer but its easier on my hones and razors.) but for the price you can't beat the naniwa ss line of hones. and annother plus to the finisher is it produces results quickly. also you don't need a nagura stone or anything like that. which is helpfull with your first finishing hone. although I've never used a shapton I can't immagine you could get much better results (to justify the price difference) than the naniwa ss. This is just my opinion though I'm not a honemeister so if you get the opportunity to try them both I would recommend you do it and decide for yourself. good luck n happy newyear

How long do the naniwa's need to stay in water before being used? I leave the norton 10/15 minutes sinking in the water before using, do the naniwa require such a long time as well?

I have a plastic pan that I soak my 4 hones in and by the tme your nortons are ready the naniwas are ready twice to three times over. there is a youtube video of lynn honing on the naniwas. and I'm. pretty shure its actual time. and if I'm not mistaken he just sprays it down a couple times and the water starts to pool up, and that's when its ready. as soon as water pools up on top of the hone its ready. they are not thirsty at all. good luck n happy shaves to ya

dzacca you said your razor is harsh coming off your norton 8k ?how so, is it pulling or is it causing skin irritation?

I have and use both. Either is fine. Lately, I've been favoring the Shaptons. They're faster, at least for me. Some find the edge of the Shapton 16k a bit harsh, like diamond paste. If your bevel is set properly, and the edge is good coming off the 8k, I find 10 no pressure strokes on the 16k is enough. I normally don't count, but less is more with that stone ime. The Naniwa 12k is probably more user friendly.