Thread: When is a good time to switch to naturals?

Synthetic to 12-20k. Then my Y-G Thuri. Took me 5 years to figure this out.

Y/G Thuri after a 20K?

I play around with all kinds of progressions.
To me that is half the fun in honing

I can do an entire honing on naturals, set the bevel on a synth first or go to anywhere between 5K and 20K before doing a final finish on a natural finisher.
Or not use a natural at all.
There is really no right or wrong answer here, play around with what you got and see what results you achieve

Thanks for all the input! Here's what I tried (still in progress though)...Chosera 1k for the bevel, Naniwa 2k aotoshi (green brick) to lessen the 1k scratches, Blue Aoto with light DMT-made slurry to convert the scratch pattern from synth to natural, then ozuku with asano nagura progression (botan through koma), then finish on tomonagura. I got stuck on the aoto for a while on 1 razor. Not sure why it went from easily shaving arm hair to easily sliding across arm hair without cutting, but I got the edge back The other razor had a much quicker transition on the aoto. I am really enjoying the couple of Jnats I have and trying to learn a little more each time I use them. I REALLY enjoy the nagura progression! Its so relaxing and enjoyable. I am slowly transitioning all my razors to a Jnat edge (as soon as they need a touch up). Thanks again!!

Chris

Originally Posted by Kees

Whenever you feel like it. There is no rule. Naturals aren't necessarily better than synthetics. Like synthetics naturals come in all grit equivalents, especially the Japanese hones.

+1.

And don't forget the hefty price tags those natural stones can carry.
Yes they are very nice stones, and will be able to deliver good results.
It's more about preference and whether you are willing to pay $$$ for a stone (Japanese naturals) to do a job you can also do with a $$ synthetic.
Coticules are more affordable, but in any significant size they've also gotten more expensive in recent years.

Originally Posted by sharkbite111

Not sure why it went from easily shaving arm hair to easily sliding across arm hair without cutting, but I got the edge back

Chris

Hey Chris

Can I ask what you did to get the edge back - I've been trying to set a bevel on my Shoubudani and I can't get it to shave arm hair.

Thanks

Originally Posted by sharkbite111

Thanks for all the input! Here's what I tried (still in progress though)...Chosera 1k for the bevel, Naniwa 2k aotoshi (green brick) to lessen the 1k scratches, Blue Aoto with light DMT-made slurry to convert the scratch pattern from synth to natural, then ozuku with asano nagura progression (botan through koma), then finish on tomonagura. I got stuck on the aoto for a while on 1 razor. Not sure why it went from easily shaving arm hair to easily sliding across arm hair without cutting, but I got the edge back The other razor had a much quicker transition on the aoto. I am really enjoying the couple of Jnats I have and trying to learn a little more each time I use them. I REALLY enjoy the nagura progression! Its so relaxing and enjoyable. I am slowly transitioning all my razors to a Jnat edge (as soon as they need a touch up). Thanks again!!

Chris

Yeah my current favorite pastime is going through the naguras as I sit on the couch with a little nakayama in hand. Not an expensive one either, but man it's great. I'm going to have to buy more razors soon to keep this up

By the way I've been going to it after 8k, thought I probably could earlier.

Originally Posted by kiwichris

Hey Chris

Can I ask what you did to get the edge back - I've been trying to set a bevel on my Shoubudani and I can't get it to shave arm hair.

Thanks

I lost the edge on the aoto. I kept at it for a while then just said 'to hell with it' and went to the ozuku and botan nagura. A few 'mid pressure' circles and a few x strokes with medium to med-heavy slurry and it was cutting hair again. Rinse, re-slurry (but lighter), and repeat with less pressure. Very nice edge at that point. Thats actually where it is now waiting for me to get home and move on to tenjyou nagura.

I'm pretty sure I dulled it with the slurry on the aoto. It still felt sharp and dug in a little on the TPT but it certainly wasn't shaving anything

Chris

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

Yeah my current favorite pastime is going through the naguras as I sit on the couch with a little nakayama in hand. Not an expensive one either, but man it's great. I'm going to have to buy more razors soon to keep this up

By the way I've been going to it after 8k, thought I probably could earlier.

Sounds familiar! I generally don't hand hold it until the very end. I set up a little station on the coffee table and use the norton box/holder and some shelf liner to keep it from sliding. Add in a few paper towels and a spray bottle and I'm all set for some honing and watching Cosmos

Chris

Originally Posted by kiwichris

Hey Chris

Can I ask what you did to get the edge back - I've been trying to set a bevel on my Shoubudani and I can't get it to shave arm hair.

Thanks

You would need a heavy diamond plate slurry or botan nagura to set a bevel on a hard stone like a shubodani. Synthetics work great for this, but you can do it.