Thread: Full Natural or Synth to natural progression?

Just a coticule, chosera 1k prior if need be :-$

I use a synthetic 1k, then to coticule but if I'm in the mood I'll bust out my 3/8k combo and then finish with the coti and some cr0x

IMHO this is a very YMMV topic. Tastes also change with experience and after new hones were tested.
I used to use 1k Chosera, 5k Super Stone then Jnats from there.
Now I am all synthetics, finishing with 20k Suehiro, or from time to time a Jnat.

Once you have a good skill set, it really makes no difference.

At this point, when I get a new razor, or a razor needing bevel work, I use a slurried soft ark stone and then work up from there, but I use 100% natural stones. I've just never had odd edge damage after the finisher when using them for the full progression. Finisher can be anything, though, I will jump over to a jnat after a middle oilstone (after wiping off the oil).

I like the scratch pattern off of the oilstones better than I like the sedimentary naturals like the japanese coarse stones - the oilstone pattern is more uniform but still gentle and not deep.

Originally Posted by mainaman

IMHO this is a very YMMV topic. Tastes also change with experience and after new hones were tested.
I used to use 1k Chosera, 5k Super Stone then Jnats from there.
Now I am all synthetics, finishing with 20k Suehiro, or from time to time a Jnat.

+1 on it's purely a preference question. I am sure if I had different hones I would use different hones, and as my straight razor journey progresses I will come across different things like I am sure those before me have done and those after me will do. Fortunately I just got a bit of HAD out of my system and really need to learn the hones I do have.

That's an easy question to answer for me. I have tried synthetics and a few different natural stones but keep coming back to the combination I get the best edges on. Edges that give a BBS shave with absolutely no irritation.

Synthetic for a bevel set (either a 400 grit or a 1k)
Guangxi stone for all the rest AKA one stone hone, diluticoti, dilutiguangxi, ect...

That's not to say this won't change in time. It just hasn't yet. Don't fix it if it aint broken.

Naniwa 1k bevel setter, BBW, Coti, Apache Strata, Escher...Done!
Works like a charm for me.

Pete <:-}