Thread: Questions with 12k

Recently acquired a Naniwa Gouken 12k. i have been shaving off my SS 8k since i started honing and have been getting good results with that. Have been trying out the 12k on some of my razors (20 laps followed with some light ones) or whenever the visual cues i have been using for honing tell me it's done.

The thing i've noticed is the first shave after honing is noticeably better but the next shaves are not as good but about where they were with my 8k shaves. (which stayed that way with subsequent shaves) Am i doing something wrong?

Doesn't really sound like you are doing anything wrong

Pressure ??? but if you were getting solid shaves off the 8k you know what you are doing

Lap count ??? try starting at 10 laps

Try a misty light slurry

Try MORE Leather stropping and less Linen after honing


Small tiny adjustments, that is all I got

Are you following with a pasted strop of some kind?

My theory on the whole thing is that some of us just won't settle for anything less than the "best". I have found that the better my edges get, the less I'm willing to tolerate an ever so slight loss of perfection in my edges. I simply go back and touch them up every few shaves. In the past I was able to go for long periods of time between honing and touching up, but it seems I'm no longer willing to endure anything less that superb.

Regards

Christian aka

Kaptain "I suppose it's a flaw in my nature" Zero

I noticed you said "20 laps followed by some light ones". This seems to indicate that you're using some pressure. On a 12k you should only be doing a limited number of very light strokes. Try going back to the 8k (also very light strokes) followed by 10-15 very light laps on the 12k.

thanks all for your ideas. Just so i understand: does to much pressure or laps make for a too delicate of a edge?

Originally Posted by tintin

thanks all for your ideas. Just so i understand: does to much pressure or laps make for a too delicate of a edge?

With any high grit synthetic hone too many laps or pressure can cause a weak edge ending in an uncomfortable shave.
After the 8k id use only feather light laps

Make sure the stone is lapped flat.

Each honer has an unique stroke and subsequently the razor and hones he uses develop a minor degree of ware.

This can raise a problem when adding a new hone to the setup!

I would sugest grabing a razor that you know has a good geometry and lap all your hones flat...then burnish them on one another...

Use the 1k to rub against the next grit and so on....10-20laps after they all been lapped asures all your stones are in sink!
It's my prefered mettod after lapping the stones on the diamond plate...use the 1k to burnish the rest of the setup.

Wash them after to remove any loose 1k grit

Start fresh from the 1 k bevel set
Use marker to mark the spine and bevels at each level.

Dint use tape the first time...this way you are sure to align the edge bevel with the spine in the same plane!

Stop using pressure after the bevel set...
Only the weight of the hand on mid grit
And less of the weight of the hand on finishers.

If you feel the need you can add one layer of tape after you finish on the 8k....ad a layer of tape for a microbevel...do the 8k routine again and progress to 12k with tape...this will put more metal behind the edge to suport it...

I recomend microbeveling if the spine has ware or the edge colapses after a few shaves.

Only strop on clean leather...
Pastes are recomended only if you cant get a good edge of the hones.
And if used ...paddle strops are prefered because they have a smaller amount of give and flex so they round the bevels less.

The diffrence in hanging pasted or paddle pasted does not affect the shave that much but it makes it easier when going back to the stones to refresh the edge.

A rounded bevel needs more metal removed for reset!...more time on the hines and starting at a lower grit.

Wipe and strop imediately after shaving to dry and realign the edge...10-15 passes is enough... use balistol imediately after that especialy on carbon steel blades...micro oxidation happens fast

From what you described you probably used to much pressure or too many laps on the 12 k....this can create a wire edge that shaves but colapses during the first shave.

But all you need is ^^^^
Good luck!

Strop