Thread: So I bought a razor ... or 10

Hello SRP members! Greetings from Romania.
I've started wet shaving a few years ago and a few months ago I was minding my own business and out of the blue I fell in this sort of rabbit hole! Before I came to my senses 10 razors, 5 stones and three strops are in various stages of delivery.
I've been practicing honing on an old Solingen Chabaz razor that belongs to my grandfather. It's not in great shape, but I do not mind if I mess it up while learning.
I get a good edge and the shaves are comfortable. I'm still learning, but I think I can get a good SAS shave. I still finish with a DE. The bevel was set by somebody with more honing experience. I've just touched it up on Naniwa 8k Fuji, Naniwa 12k SS and a Jnat. Thank Jnat is the reason I'm typing this. The Naniwa 12k edge seems to be smoother than the Jnat one.



This is the seller's description of the stone:

Product : All Natural Whetstone Kyoto (NAKAYAMA)


Origin : Made in JAPAN (Kyoto area)

Condition : NOS

Size : Length 　135mm(MAX)
Width 86mm(MAX)
Depth 25mm(MAX)
Weight 683g

hardness....①hard
　 (there are 5 categories... ①hard, ②medium hard, ③medium, ④medium soft, ⑤soft )

The Grain of Types of Natural Whetstones : SUPER FINISHING #12000~#14000...good for finish up sharpen

When completing it by this whetstone, it makes the razor which shave well.

It seems it is a hard stone. I had difficulties raising slurry, but today I've received a small diamond plate for this purpose. I've used it with very thin slurry and water.
So what do you guys think? It is a dud or is it a keeper? My next step is to touch up a TI Le Dandy on it that is a little rough after 12k.
Cheers!

First off let me say I am no JNat expert. I thought level 5 was the hard hone.
Tape is your friend.
You can save a lot of stell by learning using tape.
Once you can hone without grinding that tape away, you will have reached a point in learning where tape is no longer required.

Thanks!
I just assumed the seller misplaced the numbers regarding hardness.
I never considered tape so far. I guess it makes sense.

There is a giant debate online about tape versus no tape. My take on it is simple, for those learning tape saves razors. In the early times of learning there is a tendency for people to put too much pressure on the spine, and it grinds the spine down too fast and ruins the geometry. The fastest way to learn to hone is to find someone to show you. I used Gssixgun videos because I live 100 miles past the end of the road. I recommend using only one presenter ar a time until you learn their technique and can get consistent results. There are many many ways to get a nice shaving edge.

What are you lapping your stones with?

You should be getting good smooth shaving edges off a Naniwia 12k or the 8k Fugi.

What were you slurrying the Jnat with? Do you have Naguras?

As with all Natural stones, you will have to try it. Lap it with 400 or 320 wet and dry on something flat, cookie sheet, stone tile or glass. Make sure to bevel the edges, raise a thin slurry and see how it cuts and look at the bevel and edge with magnification. Bevel should be hazy from a shiny 8 or 12k and the edge should be as straight or straighter than the 8 or 12k.

I prefer the edge from an 8k Fuji or Snow White to the 12k Naniwia, especially if you are going to a natural, because of the load up issue and the bevel finish is about the same. The 12k has a tendency to load up, so you want to remove the swarf for your finish passes.

A diamond plate is a good investment, you can buy a good plate for as low as $30.

As far as the Jnat, you have to try it, no one can tell a stones performance by looking at it or by ink stamps on it.

I am lapping with 400 grit wet and dry on glass. I did bevel the edges with a 400 stone.
I prefer the 12k edge to the 8k Fuji one.
I do not have any real naguras and I am not sure if I will invest in them; not right now, anyway. I had a small hard slurry stone from a friend that I've slurried with. Now I have an Eze-Lap diamond plate for that purpose. It is a small plate, 1200 grit.
I did notice the load up on the 12k, but I do clean it every now and then. I finish under running water with the lightest of pressures and then it does not load up anymore.
My 30X loupe is still on it's way.

Originally Posted by Eurofighter

. . . I was minding my own business and out of the blue I fell in this sort of rabbit hole! Before I came to my senses 10 razors, 5 stones and three strops are in various stages of delivery.

My friend, you fell in a bear trap not a rabbit hole!

Some really good advice already here. The only thing I'd maybe add is that given how many razors/hones/strops you have, try to limit your variables as much as possible; take your time and get to know one stone at a time, and for this I'd keep using the same razor, strop, brush and soap so that you can be clear that any differences in the shave come from how you've used the hone.

Thanks for the good advice.
At the moment I am using the Chabaz and Le Dandy and I compare edges. I use the Chabaz as reference.
So far the conclusions are:
-Le Dandy on 12k is better than Le Dandy on Fuji
-Chabaz on 12k is better than Le Dandy on 12K
-Chabaz on 12k is better than Chabaz on Jnat

Until I learn how to hone and strop properly I don't even consider touching my nice razors and strops.
I have a cheap cow hide strop that I use. It seems to do a decent job, but I do not have another to compare it against. Not yet that is. Stuff is still on the way.
I'll let you know tomorrow morning how Le Dandy on Jnat feels like. It was sticking to the stone under running water and I felt it was time to stop.

Yea, lap the Jnat, raise a slurry and try it.

My point is any Natural even a Jnat is not a magic finisher.

Perfect the 8 or 12k. Once you can get great edges from either, then a Natural should improve that.

Nagura, provide a further progression on a Jnat that allow you to max the performance of the base stone.

As a set of naguras is rather expensive and it introduces new variables, I will stick to this setup for the moment. Maybe when I'll start honing those Japanese razors