Thread: Naniwa or King?

I have tried over the last three razors naniwa progressions, ,4,8,10k with a 1k-6/k king in bewtween I'm finding at the 6k level I've a good bevel. No matter how light the stroke on the 8K naniwa & the 10K naniwa I have to reach back into the bucket and get the 6k to get a hair cutter. I must be doing something wrong no doubt. But why does this king combo almost on it's own defeat all the rest? How can my 6k honing be so smooth and then at the 8k go dull? I can't find a logical reason for why I cant get a decent result from the naniwa. I'm considering swapping completely to the clay based kings, so smooth and precise. Yet no one talks of them. I'll go to the classifieds and flog the 8 & 10K if someone can not come up with a valid reason. Here in Newcastle/Sydney, an 8k 10K King are bloody expensive, but I don't give a stuff if they work.

Issues, 1. My poor technique 2. Maybe the Kings are a good stone?

Attack gents....Rob

I would verify that all the stones are lapped. If any of them are off, then it will affect the honing. Checking all of them is necessary.

Mate, I lap the 1k/6k combo stones the same way as the naniwas. Lapping is not the problem. I am really feeling clay based stones have some advantage over the resin based stones, then I see gssxigun & lynn go well.......The problem is me?

That's the only thing I can think of. Why an 8 k would dull a blade is beyond me. If there is something about the different stones not being compatible then its news to me.

Are you talking test fail or shave test fail ? The shave test is the only one that counts :<0) I have just gone from a King to a Norton 1k. Just for size reasons. I have heard mention of the Nani's failing pre shave tests but still doing the job. I rely mostly on thumb pad but I have been know to cut a hanger once in awhile. Sometimes I just trust my skill over the tests and take it all the way to shave to find out.

I use the King 1200 as a bevel setter! That's what the low grit is for 'setting the bevel'!

You wrote: " I'm finding at the 6k level I've a good bevel". The bevel is set long before you get to the 6K!

Glen as said and I fully agree that for some mystical reason the Naniwa stones don't always give good 'test' results but the final test, the Ultimate test is the Shave Test!

Give it a go with how the shave goes and then see how you did.

As far as using the Kings for everything, with time I think that you will find that the Naniwa stones will give you a really nice edge/shave!

As with 99.9% of Everything about this age old art, It's Personal Preference! :

10pups, the 1st time I did no tests, I got a top shave. When I went to the 'rule book' It was ordinary. You are the 1st one to say 'let the shave itself decide'. Makes good sense.

I might be the first to repeat it here :<0) At the end of it all I may have to go back once in awhile but the one thing I learned by doing it that way was how much to go back. Set the bevel right and the rest is finish and polish.

Moved to "honing" forum for more potential input.

My 2ç is look at any HHT thread & you'll see many repetitions of "the shave test is the best test"

If you're relying on HHT or some other test to base your assumptions you're shooting yourself in the foot.

If you have a calibrated HHT, do it after you've stropped not before.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

My 2ç is look at any HHT thread & you'll see many repetitions of "the shave test is the best test"

If you're relying on HHT or some other test to base your assumptions you're shooting yourself in the foot.

If you have a calibrated HHT, do it after you've stropped not before.

Thank you mate!