Thread: Gokumyo 20k

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Apples & oranges. The particles are even a different shape let alone their action.

True, but i meant from the standpoint of the razor. Wouldn't it "rough-up" the edge of a razor by going from G20 to say a jnat?

Originally Posted by olbez

True, but i meant from the standpoint of the razor. Wouldn't it "rough-up" the edge of a razor by going from G20 to say a jnat?

One stone yes, another no. Depends on the stone.

Originally Posted by olbez

True, but i meant from the standpoint of the razor. Wouldn't it "rough-up" the edge of a razor by going from G20 to say a jnat?

you can round an edge on a strop for example, but on a stone?

Originally Posted by olbez

My go to progression is Naniwa, usually 1k-5k-8k-12k, depending on how bad the edge is.
I don't really like to mess with the pastes so mostly just shaved from the 12k and it's been alright. Most of the time anyway.

If I add Gokumyo 20k after the Naniwa 12k, will it completely eliminate the need for pastes?

I would say almost or a soft "yes"! Why I say this? Because I had the stone for a few weeks now and have done about 6 razors and all of them have improved in sharpness and smoothness (much more than sharpness) from the 16k Shapton glass that I used as a prefinisher before the naturals ( turi and Zulu). But not improved much if not going back in some cases from smoothness I get sometimes from the turi or Zulu. To be clear, the smoothness I'm talking about is only perceive on the alum and not on the shave itself. As far as the shave, it is as smooth as any of my naturals.

With the exception of the first razor (a trouble child) all the others have given me great shaves. Only two razors I have done from the 1k Chosera, 4, 8, 16k Shapton glass, then finished on the Gokumyö 20k.

The first razor was an American steel that's been giving me trouble from the start. Took it three times from the 1k through the progression with tape then without, and finish on Zulu. Before I took it to the Gokumyö, it had a turi (Y/G turi) that needed paste progression to get it shavable smooth. For last, a full progression without tape from the 1k to the Gokumyö 20k. The razor turn out sharp but harsh. Something is going on with that razor and I don't know what it is yet, but I'm about to learn something from it.

The other was a solingen German steel from e-bay, that one turn out realy nice, two pass sharp and very smooth. The other 4 where an array of American, German and Sheffield steels, previously finished on my normal progression and then the turi or Zulu. On this ones I only did about 15-to 20 passes (probably too much), but not before I shaved with them and sample the previous finish (at least on three of the four). They all improved in sharpness and kept the smoothness (feel on the face). The post alum burn reveal that some razors that had 0/5 alum burn, left a small tingle around the shaved face (.5/5 or even 1/5 (Shefield). I thought of doing more laps on the leather, but opted for a progression of .25 CBN on hard wool felt strop and .1CBN (on 8x3" nano cloth). Which turned them back to 0/5 alum burn in my face, while keeping the sharpness and smoothness.

With my limitted experience with the hone and honing in general, I say, I like the stone, don't like the price. The consistency with this 6 razors have been better than with the naturals (as far as steel goes). The stone gives a smoothness only achievable after the 16k with natural or paste progression. It adds sharpness from the 16k that is noticeable but not radical. And the consistency is very good so far. No slury, no diluting, just water and go (like the Zulu), but with more consistent results on the steels than with any of the naturals. Sheffield's like turis more than Zulu and some Americans like Zulu better than turi, the same with Germans steels.

Like most stones the more you use them, the more you like them, and I know, it will be the case with this one. For uncomplicated honing, this will be the stone, but it comes at a price. I'm a romantic and I love my naturals, and the Zulu has more of my heart, for price and results, but I'll admit that this stone performs better and more consistent than the Zulu off the bat. Double O

Originally Posted by Double0757

The first razor was an American steel that's been giving me trouble from the start. Took it three times from the 1k through the progression with tape then without, and finish on Zulu. Before I took it to the Gokumyö, it had a turi (Y/G turi) that needed paste progression to get it shavable smooth. For last, a full progression without tape from the 1k to the Gokumyö 20k. The razor turn out sharp but harsh. Something is going on with that razor and I don't know what it is yet, but I'm about to learn something from it.

The 20k is like a big solid block of CrO. It won't fix anything that should have happened by 8 or 16k.

I've done about 10 so far with it & the one or 2 that weren't right I fixed on Jnats with a mid grit slurry then progressed to the 20 k.
No shame in getting help from the tools you are familiar with

It's a strange re-learning progression for me using all synthetics again but I do like this white stone.

As much as i want one I am finding my Chosera 10K more than enough stone because
it responds to slurry dilution and a light touch so well.

Stated differently a 12k or 10k hone will present a 20k hone with an edge that can be
improved or not. More often than not I have difficulty getting the best result from a
10K hone that adding a 20k would be a distraction.

I have 10k, 12k, 13k, 16k hones and all shave about the same for me....
"when I get it right". On occasion it get it "too right" and the edge
is just too darn sharp (feather like sharp) and the shave is less than
idea.

Naturals and garnet (emery) abrasive hones are another game....
Also submicron spray bits on glass or ceramic... another game
especially cBN.

Hello All,

So I just placed an order for a Gokumyo 20k and am very excited to receive it! My question has to do with the fact that I only have been using natural stones to hone on recently (have several coticules and a few JNATs). Will I be able to use the Gok 20k as a finisher after honing on, say, a coticule? My plan is to set the bevel on my Chosera 1k,
then hone on coticule (or nagura progression on JNAT) until the razor is basically shave-ready. Then I would take it to the Gokumyo to finish.

Does this sound reasonable, or should I be using synthetics the whole way thru? Is going from coticule finish to Gok20K too big a jump?

Thanks for any input you may have!!

Originally Posted by jpcwon

Does this sound reasonable, or should I be using synthetics the whole way thru? Is going from coticule finish to Gok20K too big a jump?

Thanks for any input you may have!!

IME that depends, if you get it shave ready enough on the coticule, it will be alright to go to the Gokumyo. What I would do, since you have the synthetics as well, is try it both ways. Assuming you have the razors to experiment with. I've gotten razors super sharp/shave ready off of some cotis so it is doable IME. OTOH, synthetics are repeatable and consistent. So have your own contest and see which edge comes out the best. My 2 bits.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IME that depends, if you get it shave ready enough on the coticule, it will be alright to go to the Gokumyo. What I would do, since you have the synthetics as well, is try it both ways. Assuming you have the razors to experiment with. I've gotten razors super sharp/shave ready off of some cotis so it is doable IME. OTOH, synthetics are repeatable and consistent. So have your own contest and see which edge comes out the best. My 2 bits.

Gotcha, thanks Jimmy. I guess I'll do some experimenting to see what works best. I am very excited to receive the stone as I've heard nothing but good things!!

Originally Posted by jpcwon

Gotcha, thanks Jimmy. I guess I'll do some experimenting to see what works best. I am very excited to receive the stone as I've heard nothing but good things!!

Well IME it is a great stone. Took a couple of weeks IIRC before I finally got my hot little hands on mine.