Thread: Traditional Naniwa Synth Stone: 1.5k > 8K

I have a traditional 1.5k Naniwa synth that I picked up a couple of years back to experiment in cutting it down to smaller size. As such, it works well as a mild bevel-setter for hand-held honing and I have been thinking to pick up a finer stone from the same series to complement it. The problem is that the series itself is limited: 220, 1k, 1.5k, 6k, and 8k. This would appear to suggest that it is intended as a two-step system with knives: 1k > 6k or 1.5k > 8k. With razors, I suppose 1.5k > 6k would be more prudent, followed by a natural finishing stone, but I still tempted by 1.5k > 8k and leaving things at that. And if I were to pick up the 8k and cut it down to a smaller size as well, I would have smaller 1.5k and 8k pieces to use as rubbing stones. Could these be put to good effect in order to bridge the gap between 1.5k and 8k?

By way of comparison, a couple of years ago, I did play around with a King 1.2k/8k combo and found that it could yield a pretty decent shaving edge used in tandem with the Ice Bear nagura. The nagura really came into play at the end, rather than being used as a slurry in between, to clear the mud and swarf from the 8k after some use, leading to a cleaner water finish. My understanding is that the Naniwa nagura stone is a small piece of 800 Pro/Chosera; and again, it's intended use is to clean the hone surface, rather than generate a slurry.

Seems like a large leap, but I suppose it could be done, just might take a bit more time than it otherwise might if you had a step between. I think I would rather go with the 8K as well, since that's generally considered entry level for shaving sharp. I think it would set you up nicely for follow up with a natural finisher, but that's mostly guesswork as I've no experience with the Traditional series. But I've not heard a negative comment from a razor honer about any of the Naniwa line yet, and Lynn gave the Traditional 1K fairly high praise as a bevel setter. So I can only assume the 8K is a decent stone.

I have a Naniwa SS 800 and their nagura stone. I'm not sure what it's made of but it feels far more coarse to the touch than the 800 grit SS, so I have my doubt it's the same material as the pro/Chosera. It's intended purpose is cleaning, but if you like playing with slurry well...it's interesting what you can get done with an Arkie and slurry from that scrubbing stone, I'll say that much. I tip my hat to Gssixgun for turning me onto that trick, it was an interesting experiment I'd not have thought to do otherwise since I bought it for use as a scrubbing stone.

Thanks for your comments. Actually, that's my mistake on thinking that the Naniwa dressing stone was a piece of 800 Pro/Chosera. Apparently, it's 600 grit not 800, and the coloration does not match in that case (I was going by the matching color of the 800). As for the Arkansas, I am guessing that you are applying the dressing stone to the Arkansas to increase its cutting action. Worth a shot, although venturing off-topic, and I use my Arks with oil which would hamper the process.

In returning to the Naniwa traditional 1500, my aim is to arrive at a synth progression leading to a decent synth edge with hones that I can cut down in size. If I were to go trad. 1500 > trad. 6k instead of 8k, the jump would be lessened and I could follow this with, say, an SS 10k or 12k, or even naturals afterwards (my normal default is 1k/3k Suehiro followed by a coticule followed by purple Welsh slate).