Thread: Suehiro Gokumyo 20k review

Originally Posted by bill3152

If you haven't you can try some lather on the suehiro 20k and take like 40 laps with weight of the razor only, this gets the edge almost as smooth and fine as a jnat.

What are the longterm effects of using soap on a ceramic stone ? Shapton advises against using any detergent on their stones.
Even washing soda can dissolve or soften some stones.

I wouldnt consider lather detergent. And for the time it takes for the 40 laps its rinsed off. The stone doesn't appear to absorb much water. I don't honestly know but I've done this many times on my Norton 8, naniwa 12 and this one with no known issues.

Originally Posted by bill3152

I wouldnt consider lather detergent. And for the time it takes for the 40 laps its rinsed off. The stone doesn't appear to absorb much water. I don't honestly know but I've done this many times on my Norton 8, naniwa 12 and this one with no known issues.

Neither is washing soda a detergent but still harmful. Norton's & Kings are a different animal & pretty bombproof. Ceramic stones are more susceptible.

Interesting thread.

The 20K being discussed is definitely, in my opinion, one of those stones that produces a really nice edge virtually every time you use it. It doesn't need or get better with lather, .25 diamond, cbn, slurries or whatever so far in my experience. It simply produces a nice shaving edge more consistently than any natural stone I own (and I own some pretty good ones). That said and if Naturals are your preference, then you're good to go. Comparing the shave difference between the naturals and this stone would be completely subjective.

Have fun.

Olbez: a clarification please. Did you strop after the 20k prior to you shaving?

Where does one buy this 20k stone??

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

Olbez: a clarification please. Did you strop after the 20k prior to you shaving?

You have to strop after any finishing hone, the Suehiro is a superb stone but it is not magical, except it does not require any sprays or CrO after it. Still gotta strop after it though.

Originally Posted by PLJ

Where does one buy this 20k stone??

Suehiro Gokumyo series. : Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.

Great stone. It comes with a small slurry stone that works great for cleaning swarf and resurfacing. 1k and 4k iirc.Its in Japanese though. I use the 15k also .

Bill was nice enough to let me try his 20k at the last meet. I was impressed with how fast it worked. Removed visible swarf on each pass. It left a fine edge.

Michael