Thread: Which edge do you prefer and why?

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Any suggestions? But of course. How you get to the finisher's is the hard part, but would be interesting to see a comparison of the Asagi, Escher, and Shapton 30K. I finially have all three, but haven't near learned near what they have to teach me. I get good shaving edges, but they have much more in them I know.

The high magnifications fascinate me as I have a small handheld magnifying glass (thanks to Sicboater) that I use to look at edges that says it goes to 100x, but realistically I bet it's somewhere in the 60-75x range.

Thank you for the photo's and the time you have put into this research.

Thank you for the kind words. Actually, I enjoy these types of experiments. It's fun. The only downside is time...that is a commodity these days, but will make time for this.

That is an interesting suggestion. But, I don't own a Shapton 30K. The ones I'll be getting (from Japan...depending how this disaster plays out) are the 1k, 2k, 5k, and 12k.

The Escher I own is a softer stone (Y/G) rather than the harder kind (Blue or Blue/Grey). It would be interesting to see how this will compare to the Asagi (hard) JNat.

I've got a LOT to learn from these natural stones (or honing in general) as well. Visual aids like this help my brain associate what I feel with what I see and confer with the experts on this forum.

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Visual aids like this help my brain associate what I feel with what I see and confer with the experts on this forum.

I agree 100%.

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Any particular regimen or stones you guys would like to suggest? I have the following:

1. Naniwas (1, 4, 8, 12K)
2. Soon to have "Ha-no Kuromaku" J-version Shaptons (1, 2, 5, ,12K)
3. Coticule
4. Escher (Y/G - from Jimmy)
5. JNat (Asagi, Asagi/Kiita, Kiita)

My regimen on #2 has been as follows:

1. Naniwa 1k (setting bevel)
2. Coticule (Dilucot method)
3. JNat (with Nagura progression)

I am open to suggestions as to what stones to use for the 3 blades I will receive from Rene. Maybe, after I am done, I can entice Lynn/Max/Glenn/others to take a couple and hone it their way and send it back so I can take picts and post? But, this is entirely their call and I will respect it if they decline.

How about all of the above?!?!?

Just kidding. I'll just second the suggestion to compare the three finishers, perhaps with the same progression leading up to it? I'm a big fan of the Shapton glass stones, but who knows if they'll ever get here. Better to lose a few stones, no matter how precious, than loved ones.

We'll be following your work with great interest. Thanks for your efforts!

I voted #2 too. The first looks like a double bevel.

BTW, are these pics taken with a Veho?

Originally Posted by jeness

I voted #2 too. The first looks like a double bevel.

BTW, are these pics taken with a Veho?

Yeap...It's a Veho. Not the best or sharpest, but can't go wrong with the price.

I'd like to see pics of the Coti, Escher and J Nat edges. Escher is currently my favorite finisher, Who knows, after seeing it magnified like that, I might be afraid to shave again......I also like edge number 2, looked sharp, but not irritating...like an Escher or Coti....

P.S. I've never used anything more than a 10x loupe for honing. I do have a small hand held microscope from a friend in Hong Kong, Leadingedge....Thank you....

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Yeap...It's a Veho. Not the best or sharpest, but can't go wrong with the price.

Which one costs more, 60k Kanayama or Veho
j-nat or Veho
dd goldedge or veho
Lets get a good camera for some good pics for the experiment.Just Kidding!! I would rather spend money on good shaving stuff than a camera too!!!

I know everyone thinks a Jnat finish is around 40K now all of a sudden but from what I've experimented with my long YG Escher leaves a finer finish than my Oozuku Asagi. When I first got the stones I used them in the oppositeway, assuming the Oozuku would be the last hone I need for finishing. One day upon experimentation I found I was wrong the whole time..


Y/G Escher will always follow that Oozuku now, both in slurry.

Originally Posted by Disburden

Y/G Escher will always follow that Oozuku now, both in slurry.

You have just proven that by "listening" to the stones you are getting great edges...that's the "magic". Each and every natural is so different and you weren't afraid to try something out. You may have an exceptional Escher, you may have a JNAT that's just maturing, but you definitely have the intelligence to listen and learn. Naturals can be interesting and sometimes downright frustrating as they can change on you as well as you get thru different layers and so on. Thanks for sharing your learning experience...

Originally Posted by Disburden

Y/G Escher will always follow that Oozuku now, both in slurry.

One really needs to take each stone on its merits as you have done. The one dark blue Escher I had was coarser than even my J-nat pre polisher so became redundant in my progression.