Thread: Letting my inexperience with a Naniwa 12k show here.

For the past few months or so I have been using my Naniwa 12k after a Norton 4k/8k. I have been getting great results with 10-20 laps on the 12k with zero pressure being used. After honing I do 50 laps on webbing and 200 laps on leather. I found that this is what worked best for me after the 8k so why not keep going when I finally got a 12 k.

My issue is on the first shave after honing my razor is a little harsh but on subsequent shaves it is a nice smooth shave with a notable improvement from my 8k edges. Am I over honing on the 12k or is it something else?

Thanks,
Marc

It's not easy to diagnose but it's possible that you may be overdoing it on the 12k. Generally I don't go beyond 15 laps on the 12k. It cuts fast. But it's hard to say if those few extra are your problem. Try backing off a little on its use and see if it helps. Also, use a scope to see if the edge is starting to break down. Too many laps on it and the edge will start to chip.

I started with 10 then 12 then.... Until I got to 20 laps. I did all of this on the same razor after I lightly killed the edge with a TNT so I could reset the bevel on a 4k easily. I was trying to get some consistency with my testing of the nani.

I will have to take a closer look with my loop the next time I hone to see what is happening. It looked good if I am remembering correctly though.

Strop more after honing...

Here is a trick, some don't believe in it, but I swear by it...

After honing regardless of whether you are using paste or not, hit the Linen for 50 laps and the Leather for 100, Look closely at the edge after this.. If you created a fragile edge from "Overhoning" that Linen stropping will expose it, you will find issues along the edge.. Test shave re-strop 25/50 recheck the edge, if you messed up on the hones the problems will appear..

This does not do anything for showing any problem other than an Overhoned/Fragile/Harsh edge ie: a weak edge

If your stropping isn't showing a problem then you need to look at a slight variation to your finishing

So if there is an issue with the edge due to honing why is the edge great after the first shave? Wouldn't it be degraded even further on the second shave and get even harsher?

Thanks, I will have to start using that trick. It could save some massive headache every now and then.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

It's not easy to diagnose but it's possible that you may be overdoing it on the 12k. Generally I don't go beyond 15 laps on the 12k. It cuts fast. But it's hard to say if those few extra are your problem. Try backing off a little on its use and see if it helps. Also, use a scope to see if the edge is starting to break down. Too many laps on it and the edge will start to chip.

Uh oh....I just used my new Naniwa 12k for the first time today, and I did like 40 laps
I can get a mirror shine on the 4k/8k, but after I finished on the 12k I noticed a lot of scratches on the edge. Especially under my jeweler's loupe. Does this mean I did too many passes?

After the 12k, I did 60 laps on the leather. Then I took a shower and did 75 laps on linen and another 50 on leather. I checked the edge after and it looked good, but still had the scratches. On the other hand, I got probably my best shave ever with it. But the real test will be about 24 hours from now when any ingrown hairs appear. If I get less of them, then it's thumbs up in my book.

Originally Posted by supersco

Uh oh....I just used my new Naniwa 12k for the first time today, and I did like 40 laps
I can get a mirror shine on the 4k/8k, but after I finished on the 12k I noticed a lot of scratches on the edge. Especially under my jeweler's loupe. Does this mean I did too many passes?

After the 12k, I did 60 laps on the leather. Then I took a shower and did 75 laps on linen and another 50 on leather. I checked the edge after and it looked good, but still had the scratches. On the other hand, I got probably my best shave ever with it. But the real test will be about 24 hours from now when any ingrown hairs appear. If I get less of them, then it's thumbs up in my book.

The 12k shouldn't be producing any new scratches that weren't there in the first place. Reading up on some another site about Jnats it was suggested that scratches that suddenly appear at the end of a polishing progression are not really produced at that stage but rather deeper scratches that were not polished off at previous grit levels and are now visible as the rest of the bevel is polished. That's one possibility. Another is that there was something contaminating your hones surface that produced that at the end (stray diamond particles from a DMT or some other grit particle).