Thread: I need a finishing stone Please help

Very new to honing myself so what I say comes from very little experience for what it's worth. I use a fairly complete set of Naniwas ending with a 12000 finisher and some laps on a Crox pasted balsa strop. The edges were good and sharp but were lacking in that smooth feeling. So I took a flier on a Zulu Grey and found I got the smoothness I wanted without sacrificing the sharpness by redoing my blades on the Zulu Grey and a few laps on the Crox pasted strop. No idea why this is but it works for me and I am staying with it. I agree also that the 12000 Nani needs constant flattening for some reason. The Zulu Grey is a natural stone and there is a huge long thread on it in the honing section if you are interested.

Bob

I have always used a coticule as a finisher...I am no honemeister or anything close but I love my coticule. I have tried other finishing stones and not been satisfied. one included a japanese 12k+ which i could just not get a smooth edge from. If you keep your eyes peeled sometimes coticules do come around for a more than good deal. just a thought.

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

I don't know what posts you are reading but here is my take.

I have three coticules, two welsh slates, an old thuri, a new thuri. I also have the naniwa 12k. In my testing so far the naniwa produces a better final edge than any of them.

The naniwa was about 75 bucks and it's some of the best money I've spent.

I've never read anything bad about the naniwa. And it's never damaged any of my razors.

So I recommend the naniwa 12k.

Michael

I sure would like to try one of them. I love my coticules as a finish for my razors but the talk of these nani's makes me very interested lol. I can't afford HAD again lol.

I need to spend the $ and try 4 my self.

Originally Posted by JulioFundora

MST Müller Water Hone 8x3" Whetstone Natural Sharpening Stone | eBay




Is that any good for a finisher? I need a push in right direction.

I have one and I think it provides a nice shaving edge. There are better natural finishers out there but it does the job. I use one side for knives and the other for razors.

As I understand it you want a good, fair priced, 3 inch wide minimum natural finishing hone. I think you need to compromise at least one of these things or be prepared to take a gamble. If you have an interest in natural hones and don't want to break the bank I would advised scrapping the 3 inch wide minimum requirement.

I use a King 1200 waterstone the Norton 4/8 and finish on the Naniwa 12K. I have several friends including Mods and Mentors who have all kinds of hones, including naturals in fact one has more hones than I could ever afford!!!

On the advice of a mentor and a Senior Mod I purchased my hones. I do understand the desire for a natural but I have one friend who is a Mentor who has traded $1000's of dollar back and forth finding naturals that work for him!!

The Naniwa 12K doesn't chip and all of my hones give consistent results due to the fact that the grit is very tightly monitored! where Mother nature isn't very fussy!

One of my friends here wasn't get the results that he wanted from a Chinese hone Glen recommended the Naniwa 12K. My friend said he'd take him up on his counsel when he got the money. I bought a Naniwa 12K for my friend and had it delivered to his door! I did the same for another friend!

They both loved them!!! One of them is the one who has traded so many naturals!

I wouldn't have made the purchase if I wasn't 100% sure of the results they would Love the Edge that they would get!!

Well for what it's worth, that's my two cents!

I think i AM SOLD . Now I need to find one . I am sick of my SR not being as sharp as my Disposable razor.

Julio, what other stones have you got? What's your level of experience with honing and shaving?

Was your razor honed when you got it?

Michael

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Julio, what other stones have you got? What's your level of experience with honing and shaving?

Was your razor honed when you got it?

Michael

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Julio, what other stones have you got? What's your level of experience with honing and shaving?

Was your razor honed when you got it?

Michael

Norton 4/8k
King 250/1k
Dmt Extra Coarse for lapping
I just posted a pic of another stone Just acquired and wish to know what it is.
Shaving I would say 6/10 maybe 7 at best
Honing 4/10 maybe 5 at best
No the blades were dull I brought them to a sharper edge. They just wont shave like mt disposable straight razors. I hear that the disposable blade will always be sharper. I want to get my blades as close as I can. I need to send 1 out to be honed to have a staple to start with. I like doing on my own so it sucks I am stubborn.

You won't get your Str8 as sharp as a disposable and a disposable won't be as sharp as a Str8 either!! They are 2 different animals and IMHO shouldn't be put up against each other. Your looking for a smooth keen edge that will take in 3 pass's all your beard down far enough to feel nothing but smooth skin when you pass your hand up and down your face after your shave.
That to me is Str8 sharp!!!