Thread: Stones razor dilemma...

Originally Posted by ocelot27

I think the Shapton system is the best if you're going to go synthetic. IMO it's easier to hone on and very reproducible when compared to the Nortons. I learned on Nortons and then got the Shapton 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 30K. The edges off the 16-30K are ridiculously sharp and smooth. They are also easy to lap and last forever. Just my $0.02

-john

Thanks... Shaptons better be good considering their price!

Thanks all....i appreciate your suggestions and comments

Originally Posted by robert2286

Thanks... Shaptons better be good considering their price!

Should have said "cost of no concern" the Shaptons are a good choice...

Originally Posted by ocelot27

Should have said "cost of no concern" the Shaptons are a good choice...

Perhaps i should start collecting them slowly! Btw i noticed that shapton has several different types... Glass, ceramic and the professional versions... Ive seen lynn using the glass ones... I know nothing of the other ones

Buy a synthetic at the range of 10-12 K, and the kamisori or a JNAT finisher with tomo nagura...

Originally Posted by robert2286

Perhaps i should start collecting them slowly! Btw i noticed that shapton has several different types... Glass, ceramic and the professional versions... Ive seen lynn using the glass ones... I know nothing of the other ones

The regular Shapton ceramic on glass is what you want - you don't need the professional ones unless you plan on honing hundreds of razors. I think the only difference between the pro and the regular is the thickness of the honing media. I've had mine for about 6 months and I hone almost every day and I've worn through about 1/4 of the media on my heaviest used hones - that's with lapping using a Shapton diamond lapping plate quite frequently. I have a coticule and an Esher that I break out for fun but my "go to" hones are the Shaptons - very consistent and predictable. You could get very good results with just the 4K and the 8K to start out and add a 16K later. You can get a cheaper 1K for your bevel-setting pleasures.

-john

-john

Originally Posted by ocelot27

The regular Shapton ceramic on glass is what you want - you don't need the professional ones unless you plan on honing hundreds of razors. I think the only difference between the pro and the regular is the thickness of the honing media. I've had mine for about 6 months and I hone almost every day and I've worn through about 1/4 of the media on my heaviest used hones - that's with lapping using a Shapton diamond lapping plate quite frequently. I have a coticule and an Esher that I break out for fun but my "go to" hones are the Shaptons - very consistent and predictable. You could get very good results with just the 4K and the 8K to start out and add a 16K later. You can get a cheaper 1K for your bevel-setting pleasures.

-john

-john

Thanks!!

The only bad thing that I find in your procedure is that polishing with the chinese the bevel out of a king 6k takes too long. I would add a naniwa 8k to speed-up the process.
Between naniwa 8k and king 6k there ia a BIG difference in spite of the small numeric difference.

Originally Posted by Sterm

The only bad thing that I find in your procedure is that polishing with the chinese the bevel out of a king 6k takes too long. I would add a naniwa 8k to speed-up the process.
Between naniwa 8k and king 6k there ia a BIG difference in spite of the small numeric difference.

Sounds like a wise advise! Thanks... I will definitely take into consideration

It sounds like you have a good solid progression and you seem happy with the shaves. The only stone that will make a difference is the finishing stone.

It will make a difference… I don’t know if it will make your edges better… until you technique improves. All 1-8k stones do the exact same thing. Some may do it faster but the results are the same. I have a 1K King, Norton, Chosera and Super Stone. They all leave 1k stria, really the only difference is in the feel.

If you just need to buy a stone, buy a 12K super stone. It is the gold standard. Then if you buy more finishers the 12k will be your standard, they will be better or not as good.

Really the best thing you could do is buy a good strop and practice your stropping, this “will” make a difference in your edges and shaves.