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I really don't know if what I have is considered a full set or not. What I have is 1K-3/8K-12K naniwa and a 20K. Also a 4/8K Norton. I thought I was getting a good edge with the 12K as a finisher but this 20K takes the edge to a whole new level. What i'm wondering is should you use the paste after the 20K or just strop it. anyone out there try it. would there be any advantages. any thoughts on the subject.
Its done both ways. Some swear after the 20 you don't need to, and some do anyway. I say try both and see which you prefer. You can also search gokumyu I think spelled it right? Lots of posts on it and their finishing process using it.
I would say that you probably have a little over a full set, as that 20K is an extra, IMO,, & a nice one at that.
I don't use pastes or powders, so I can't answer your question.
That depends upon what you use. There are sprays and pastes of all kinds. Using the right ones correctly can, in fact, improve the edge coming off a Gokumyo, but considerable research has to be done to find the right spray for the job, the proper substrates on which to use it, and how to go about doing it. There is plenty of information on all of these in the Library section.
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Originally Posted by rhensley
I would count the 1k 3k 8k to be a full set. Try shaving from your 8k to test your honing skill. I shave test after the 8k on every razor I hone. When your razor is honed correctly, you shouldn't need any paste.
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Originally Posted by mrsell63
I use a little 0.25 diamond on a balsa strop sometimes but I like the notion of going straight from a natural finisher to my strop.
John
I'm very new to honing but the advise I received when I started was to get a set of stones, and it was recommended that they be the Norton 1,4,8k set. I was told to learn to hone on them until I could get very good, comfortable shaves on my razors consistently, then and only then think about whether I wanted or needed other ( finishers ). I now have a few including the Suehiro G20 and am learning every day more and more how to use them. I was taught to finish polishing the edge and then take it to the leather and learn to strop to make the edge better, I think this is allot harder than I thought and another place where I am learning allot more than I thought I would.
I would be happy to hone on the stones that you have but I would ask about what strops you have and how do you use them before I would add pasted strops, sprays etc. to the list. I think for me I will keep trying to refine my honing and stropping on leather & linnen before I mix it up with pastes or sprays etc.
Just the opinion of another newbi FWIW
FrankC
If you were getting good edges off a 12k and now even better edges from the 20K, what are you trying to achieve with paste?
While I do not have a 20K, I do have a number of finishing naturals that produce very nice comfortable edges, Arks, Thuringians, Eschers, Slates, Coticules, Vosegine and films. Some I paste with different sprays depending on what the edge needs, keenness, comfort or maintenance.
After some stones, I shave straight off of the stone, some just get some linen and leather laps for a bit of smoothness.
As with most things in this hobby, there is no recipe or rote formula, for getting a particular edge. You do what the edge needs, to get the best shave for your face.
Some pastes, Chrome, Ferrous, Cerium will give you smoothness for comfort. Some, Diamond, Yellowstone, Blue Velvet compound and lower grit CBN will give you some keenness and harshness. Some High grit CBN will give you both.
What paste can do is, give you that little extra option to tailor the edge for your face. Mostly to do what linen and leather stropping can do with many fewer laps.
So, it depends on what you think the edge needs.
When you say the 20k takes the edge to a whole new level, are you talking about keenness or comfort?
Your answer is a preference thing. Do you like a more "crisp" edge? if you do, stick with just the stones and no pastes, this is my preference. If you like a bit more "smoothness", then try some crox. I don't use diamonds any more as I let the stones do the "cutting" on the steel. Crox does more of a smoothing out IMO. My crox is applied via leather paddle on occasion as some of the good hard steeled razors can use a bit of toning down.
Actually one could call a coticule a "complete set" depending on the user's skill level. From bevel setting (possible but most tedious) to finish a coti can offer its owner a very smooth and comfortable edge....they do take time to learn though