Thread: Chinese 12K/Naniwa 12000/SPYDERCO UF

Hi guys,
So I couldn't resist buying some new honing stuff from ClassicShaving.
I would like to know in which order I should hone my str8 razors after the belgian yellow coticule.
My toughts are that the chinese is less than 12000 grit and comes first than the Naniwa 12000 and last the Spyderco UF which is supposed to be 14000 grit.
Am I correct?

Originally Posted by kingreverent

Hi guys,
So I couldn't resist buying some new honing stuff from ClassicShaving.
I would like to know in which order I should hone my str8 razors after the belgian yellow coticule.
My toughts are that the chinese is less than 12000 grit and comes first than the Naniwa 12000 and last the Spyderco UF which is supposed to be 14000 grit.
Am I correct?

Instead of 3 finishing hones, I would just get the naniwa 12k and some CrO paste.

and if you dont have a bevel setter, a dmt 1200 or naniwa 1k.


Just my personal opinion....I would wait for jimmy/glen/lynn/etc.. to chime in

Agreed. The C12 is a cheap alternative to the better stones. Its cheap for a reason.

UF and Naniwa 12 are pretty much the same grit. The Naniwa cuts faster though.

Agreed, you only need the Naniwa 12k of the ones you listed.

Am I reading that correctly??? You already purchased all three stones????

Many thanks for your advises.
Yes I bought them all because I want to experiment (it's a hobby...)and IMHO its good to hone in small increments of grits.
Since I use the progression Chinese 12K - Naniwa 12K - Spyderco UF I get the smoothest of shave.
The shave feels like having a "plastic credit card gliding over the skin" and a BBS-shave as a result.

I guess if it works out

I would be a little concerned with overhoning the edge, with excessive finishing... or creating so fine of an edge that it only lasts a couple of shaves....

Keep us updated....

don't mean any offense, but I don't understand the objective of your post. It sounds like you have both no experience honing, and plenty of experience at the same time. The question started about the order of using three finishing stones, when one would be plenty, then it ended up with you saying that using small steps is part of your honing style, and you get great edges.

I really do not mean anything by this, for all I know you may be a honing expert just looking to see what others think. The only reason I call attention to the apparent conflicting info, is that if you are new to honing and bought three finishers because you didn't know better, people here will be more than happy to help you out. It's much easier to help if people have an accurate idea of the type of help that's needed.

Again, I'm not questioning your ability or judgment. Just to show where I'm coming from, Your first post in this thread did sound like it was written by someone unfamiliar with honing, who wanted advice from those who had experience.

I don't see any point in using the Chinese stone.

I've gotten good edges using the UF and then the Naniwa. Not sure if they are better than just the Naniwa, as I've only done it twice. Maybe you should try that out and tell us the results.

I've no doubt you will likely try this anyway, but I'll suggest it anyway...

Try each of them individually in order to get a sense of what each of them does alone.