Thread: Naniwa Chosera 10,000 Grit Synthetic Hone.

Look what I just got in the post.



The question was, are they any good for sharpening razors? The answer is yes.

You can use them how you want, wet or dry. I used mine dry. Bone dry.
Out of the box, the surface is rough. First thing you must do is rub the surface over with the rubbing stone provided.
It creates a fine powdery dust as it flattens cleans and smooths the surface. When it feels smooth, dust it off and you are ready to go. That bit took about 30 seconds.

I took a W&B "Special" razor that I have not used in a while.
Seven laps on 1500 wet and dry paper to give a crisp new V edge.
Fifteen laps on a small 5" slurried yellow coticule.
Five laps on the same coticule with just water.
Five laps on the brand new, bone dry Chosera.
Fifty strops on a leather strop.
Nothing else.
I then had a full close comfortable shave.

The Chosera gives the razor edge that sticky sharp feeling, instantly. It's a great finishing hone. Not cheap but it is good. Very good. I think if I honed for a living, this would be a must have. No water no mess and a shaving sharp edge in seconds without CrOx.

The surface of the hone after the five laps has the tell tale grey showing that metal has been removed.
Not something I'm used to after using my coticule. But for the perfectionist, the grey filings wash off with soap and a quick rubbing with the rubbing stone. The Japanese markings are not going to last long, but that doesn't matter, because they are repeated on one side of the hone and on the other there is a number and some Japanese writing that I don't understand.

I like natural stones and tend to think of synthetics as soulless. This hone has made me question that, because it is so efficient.

This hone is quite superb. I don't think it would disappoint any straight razor user.