Thread: What Finishing Stone to Buy

Get the norton 4k/8k or Naniwa 3k/8k, and don't get anything higher until you can get a comfortable edge off the 8k. if you can't get a decent edge off the 8, there's no point moving up any higher. Or so I've heard, but I am just a humble noob and will happily stand corrected if this is not sound advice! but this is what I've done so far although I have been collecting a variety of stones I haven't touched anything higher than 8k apart from a brief trial of the c12k [which I would not recommend for your FIRST finishing stone regardless, but it isn't a big hit to the wallet anyway which is how I saw it when I got mine, but I still ended up buying more and more stones afterwards anyway so the money saving factor doesn't really apply anymore]

You will find many threads recommending finish stones on this website. Plenty of reading to help you make a good decision for your purchases.

Just for reference, here is a short list of finishers that I have had success with.

Belgian Yellow Coticule
Dragon's Tongue
Thuringian
Lynn Melynllynn
LG Escher
Salm Coticule
Various Japanese Naturals
Transluscent Arkansas
ZULU GREY

The above are all naturals stones mined from the earth.
As far as synthetic stones are concerned, here are a few I use intermittently.

Norton 8k
Naniwa 8k
Shapton 8k
Naniwa 12k
Shapton 16k
Gokumyo GMN-200


All the above will give you a decent shave if you begin by setting a proper bevel with the 1k stone.
You've got the rest of your life to experiment. Have fun.

Jerry
____

as cheap stone that work there is CHinese stone,however you can buy without problem a naniwa 12k.
Another cheap solution that work fine(better then chinese) is paste on leather strop....but you must be careful

Originally Posted by Icarus

Hi All,

I am planning on switching soon from a Shavette to a real straight. Since my first straight razor (or razors) will be professionally honed, I am wondering about what type of finishing stone would be appropriate to maintain the edge.

What about a leather & linen strop & the skill to use it ?
Seriously, if the razor is pre-honed. It won't even need a stone for a while, accidents & tungsten beards not withstanding.

Re stones. Some will recommend various stones for various reasons but mostly it's due to familiarity. Not a bad thing in some cases but a limitation in others. Almost any finisher will do when it comes down to it but you have to drive it. Take your time learn to strop & shave & do some more research. Eventually choose something with a known good track record for razors like the Norton Shapton or Naniwa etc.
My personal choice in stones will not likely be yours so when time comes think about what you need from a stone, then find which stone fills those needs.

Thanks to all for the advice!

Icarus