Thread: Full Natural or Synth to natural progression?

Which are you using? Currently I'm bevel setting on Chosera then moving on to a full natural progression using BBW, Coti, and Thuringians.

Depends of my mood
Bevel on shapton glass 1k or 2k and then 4k, 8k all shaptons, finish on jnat.
Sometimes I go from 8k to 12k naniwa and then jnat.
Other times 1k to jnat. 1k, 4k then jnat.

I currently hone on one of two systems, the first is synthetic and consists of a Naniwa Professional 1K,3K followed by the Hayabusa 4K and the Fugi 8K. The usual finisher for this progression is the Suehiro Gokumyo 20K. This system is bullet proof and consistent, edges on most razors are very keen and smooth.

My natural progression utilizes mostly J-Nats. If the edge to be honed doesn't need chips removed or other major bevel work then I start with an Okunomon Suiita and an Ohiro Suiita tomo, the slurry from this combo is furiously fast and is slow to break down.
Once the bevel is set and straight I have some options, I may then progress on this same Awasedo with a full nagura progression or switch to a big Nakayama Karasu for the same progression, these two stones are large and a little faster to hone on than others for this mid-level work.
While I can finish a razor on either of these with tomo slurry's, I have others that I prefer to use.
For finishers I can chose between: Aiiwatani Asagi, finishing on light slurry this one creates laser sharp edges but is challenging. I have an Oozuku Asagi that has such crisp feedback that you can feel every little distraction on the edge, this is another stone that will deliver very keen edges but can also give you a tediously keen edge if finishing on water.
Next in line is a Nakayama Kiita kopa, a somewhat softer and more forgiving stone that is almost boringly easy to finish on that brings a wonderful edge to somewhat softer steels, harder steel also, it just takes longer.
My latest acquisition is a stunning Nakayama Maruka Maruichi Asagi shouhonyama. This stone will give the best edges that I have ever been able to hone on a razor, great feedback and super smooth to hone on, easy to read but on the slow side which I see as a positive for such a fine finisher. Edges that are progressed down to clear water are very keen, totally smooth and and are very easy to shave with.

A very fine surgical black Arky and a large Zulu Grey round out the top tier finishers, and of course mix and matching is allowed just for fun.

Easy: Chosera 1K, Shapton GS 2,4,8,16 or G20, and a final edge on Y/G Escher. Works every time on every edge.

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.