Thread: Suehiro Gokumyo 20k review

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.

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.

Just ordered one. Got good results with a Sharpton 30k but looking for a little better. How many laps do you use on the 20k?

I asked about the 20K and the Zulu Gray as a finisher a couple of months ago... ended up buying both so I could make my own (albeit expensive) decision.

Use the 20K for the first time tonight... fantastic stone! Fast & smooth. And the later adjective describes the shave... silky smooth!

Originally Posted by jkatzman

Just ordered one. Got good results with a Sharpton 30k but looking for a little better. How many laps do you use on the 20k?

Some do significantly more, but I tend toward no more than 10-15 at most. Because the hone is white, you readily can see swarf accumulation showing that this hone is an incredibly fast cutter.

My 20k stone arrived yesterday and I lapped it with a 300 and 1000 diamond. I bought on eBay a Mastro Livi that came in with some chips on the front quarter of the blade and uneven bevel on the back quarter. I was able to hone the blade with my shapton 8k, 16k and 30k stones and get a pretty good even edge on it. Still, it wasn't really what I wanted. Took the 20k stone and lapped the Livi 5 times blade edge first. Much better. Then I put the stone under running water and lapped it 5 more times spine first. WOW! I tried the HHT and it sucked the hair against the blade and cut it. Then tried on my arm and cut hair half way up. Then to my face, don't even feel the blade cutting. I am a believer. Best stone I've used and I have used Norton, Shapton and a couple more I can't remember. Worth every penny. Will be dynamite for touch ups.

Originally Posted by jkatzman

My 20k stone arrived yesterday and I lapped it with a 300 and 1000 diamond. I bought on eBay a Mastro Livi that came in with some chips on the front quarter of the blade and uneven bevel on the back quarter. I was able to hone the blade with my shapton 8k, 16k and 30k stones and get a pretty good even edge on it. Still, it wasn't really what I wanted. Took the 20k stone and lapped the Livi 5 times blade edge first. Much better. Then I put the stone under running water and lapped it 5 more times spine first. WOW! I tried the HHT and it sucked the hair against the blade and cut it. Then tried on my arm and cut hair half way up. Then to my face, don't even feel the blade cutting. I am a believer. Best stone I've used and I have used Norton, Shapton and a couple more I can't remember. Worth every penny. Will be dynamite for touch ups.

Now that you've seen what the stone can do, get ready to be accused of over-honing your edges every time you mention how much you like it.