Thread: Different Honed Edge Results

12k is nice stone but wouldn’t be scared to try esche or other naturals again. I like the Thuri and coti finishing stone I have but I have had someone else’s Thuri edge that I did not like and they knew how to hone Razors. My personal favorite finishers are my coticule and oozuku, but my coti IMO is on different finishing level then most coticules. Also IMO I think it is easier to get a good permorming jnat for final finishing compared to Thuri/coti.

If you want a good natural I would wait until you were good at honing, then look at natural finishers from people that offer refunds.

I took delivery of a Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. I have two Aust razors purchased new from SRD honed to SS 12K. I put both on the 20k and all I can say is WOW!! What a difference!! No irritation at all and BBS. I love this stone!

Does it get smoother or just different?

I strongly believe that people's beards differ in ways that affect what you need in an edge. If you have a very coarse beard (like mine) you may just need finer grits. It may be hard for people with finer beards to realize this, because they can't know the experience of shaving when you have a coarse beard. We identify with others and try to help them by advising them based on our own experiences -- but this can go wrong when there are intrinsic differences, like between beards. Maybe you just needed a more keen edge. I did.

I understand that different skin and beard play a big part of the edge that works for YOUR face. I am pleased to have found a finish which feels fantastic for me! That said, I will still experiment and try new things.

As others have said, try to eliminate all variables, save one. If I have just used a different hone on an edge I understand, I'll shave with a familiar soap and brush. All I want is to see the change one variable had on my shaving experience.

I'm far from an expert, but have been able to navigate a couple of different hones with success. Be patient. Keep improving your honing, stropping and shaving techniques. It will likely be a combination of these things which will allow you to get the close and comfortable shave we all seek

If the bevel is set correctly, I find what Lynn said that using Naniwa stones will give you an excellent shave with a lot less effort then Jnats and coticles. I will touch up with a Naniwa 12k and depending on the steel may do 5-10 laps on my Escher then to my Mastro Livi loom strop. The Livi chromium oxide on linen and skin are the best finishing and touch up you can buy.