Thread: Which grit is more important: #8000 or #12000?

I have hones/strops in #1200, #4000, and #60000. I'm already getting both the #8000 and the #12000 but I just want to know if I could do without one. Thanks.

I think you can get away with ditching the 12k for now. Jumping from a 4k to a 60k is a BIG step IMHO

If you had a blue belgian which is about 6K I would say the 12K would be the one to have but since you have 4K then 8K would be the next logical progression.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If you had a blue belgian which is about 6K I would say the 12K would be the one to have but since you have 4K then 8K would be the next logical progression.

And I wouldn't even need the 12K?

I think you would be alright going from 8k to some .5 micron chromium oxide.

Originally Posted by TiltbackJack

I think you would be alright going from 8k to some .5 micron chromium oxide.

That is correct. That's what I do and get great results out of.

Personally, you could do without the 12000 the 8000 is a good polish for the edge and anything higher only refines it a bit, anything much lower and it starts to feel harsh. I like a finishing step after the 8000 but there are about a dozen different pastes, hones, other abrasive substances to try so I like to keep my finishing options open.

I guess what I mean is that every razor I have needs at least an 8000 grit step to be sharp but when going finer than that there is a lot of variation in what seems to be the best final finish for my razors, some like nothing, some like paste, some like a fine barbers hone, etc.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Personally, you could do without the 12000 the 8000 is a good polish for the edge and anything higher only refines it a bit, anything much lower and it starts to feel harsh. I like a finishing step after the 8000 but there are about a dozen different pastes, hones, other abrasive substances to try so I like to keep my finishing options open.

I guess what I mean is that every razor I have needs at least an 8000 grit step to be sharp but when going finer than that there is a lot of variation in what seems to be the best final finish for my razors, some like nothing, some like paste, some like a fine barbers hone, etc.

+1, agree. 8K is very important. It is a finishing grit. I have honed many razors that responded so well to the 8K I would go straight to pasted bench strop at .5µ then to the finish strop. I do the 12K often as it does put a great polish on a edge.

+2....... I'd go for an 8K coticule. You can put a polish on a blade many many ways. But you have to start with
a well honed sharp edge. The Belgian yellow coticule has been the torch bearer for this task for centuries.
Occasionally you get the odd pretender come along that promises a new type of perfection, but with carbon steel razors (not the new world stainless razors) the coticule seems to do a job that satisfies many straight shavers.

I also get great relsults with the yellow coticule, it could take a little longer, but it'll get you there