Thread: Best finishing stone for new guy?

For someone new I would probably recommend a synthetic such as a Naniwa 10 or 12K.

In regards to "best".... well you are likely to get a dozen guys giving you a dozen different answers. For instance, I pretty much do all my honing on naturals and prefer a vintage thuringian 9 times out of 10 for my favorite finisher.

I don't own a naniwa, but have shaved from them and they leave a very nice edge. Being a synthetic, they will probably be easier to get the hang of for someone beginning than a natural where they can vary in properties from stone to stone.

The best finishing stone for anyone (new or old-hand) is the one you can afford to buy and learn how to use effectively.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

The best finishing stone for anyone (new or old-hand) is the one you can afford to buy and learn how to use effectively.

James.

This. Choose one and learn how to use it. What you learn can be applied , or at least help, with any of the others. What Lynn said about personal preference is key (IMHO).

I found the Naniwa 12k affordable and easy to learn. It's also fairly fast for as fine as it is.

Originally Posted by Quist

I have the Norton 1K 4K & 8K
I just straight razor shaved for the first time last night
I semi-restored, honed, stropped and shaved with a razor from ebay
although i dont think the razor was as sharp as it was supposed to be
Hot towel , Van Der hagen, shave, sample of Loyds after shave lotion

wow you just started shaving with a straight and starting to hone at the same time. stick with the 8k until you learn how to max out that 8k. a finisher will do you no good if your not getting all you can out of your 8k.

I have a mystery coarser stone and a norton bench hone. Both have been around for a while. Only needed them the 1st time around. Then 4k and 8k Kings. I asked for a 12k for Christmas. I think I am ready for a 12k as I get good shaves from the 8k.

Jeff

This might be an example of the inconsistancy of Chinese stones I've only used the one. I bought a batch of stones that included one, based on other stones I've used I'm guessing it's 12k-13k'ish. It's a perfectly decent stone but I find it incredibly hard & slow (I normally finish on a Thuringian). I really enjoy honing but there's no way I'd jump from an 8k to this stone, life's just to short.

I my self am new to this forum. I started using a straight razor almost a year ago now. I read somewhere that once u'll try it u'll never go back...let me tell you..thing scared me a bit that first month..
N e ways..
Being cheap thinking I might go back to the ol fusion, I got myself the cheap chinese 12k. Paid something like 15 bucks or so...and with lots of practice. I can honestly tell you I can get my razors to pass the hanging hair test.. I later read somewhere that these stones can be very inconsistent. Some kicking serious , n others not so much...guess I got lucky here..now I'm into it 5 razors and still using my chinese 12k...I say try your luck on one of these. can't go wrong with 15 bucks... unless you plan on spending a good amount of cash for a name brand stone..
P.S. ol Fusion can jiggle these now

New or old, I'd recommend a Coticule on water, since you're already using the Norton 4K/8K. It doesn't matter which speed you get, it should leave a keen and mellow edge. You don't need a big 8x3, you can get a nice 40x125mm or 40x150mm for under $100 (look at some bouts for around $60). It's splash and go, easy to transport, and known for providing skin friendly edges.

I'd choose this option over going to CrOx or CBN.

"Best" and "Favorite" are probably almost interchangeable here. haha Obviously, ease of use is going to be some kind of synthetic, because they're pretty much guaranteed consistency and you can get a big friggin' 8x3 stone that's a little easier to use for some people than a small one. That being said, my favorite is my Lynn Idwal. Mine's only about an inch and a half wide, but if you take your time, it doesn't matter if the whole blade is on the stone all the time. And for that matter, I think it makes smiling blades actually easier to hone. I like natural stones better, but I couldn't for the life of me tell you why. At the end of the day, they all do pretty much the same thing, and you'll find seven different people with fourteen different "best" stones, so it'll end up being your personal preference.... and let's be honest, within a year you'll have at least three finishers, because those things are like crack.