Does anybody have any experience with suehiro gokumyo hones?

[MaximusVessicus]

Is anybody familiar with the Suehiro Gokumyo line of ceramic whetstones? I purchased the 20k grit stone as a fine finisher and was so impressed with them that I purchased 10 others. The premier Gokumyo only come in 10k, 15k, and 20k; so I will have all of them. In addition I bought the Suehiro Gokumyo-Taiga line, from 300 grit to 1500 grit. I also got the Gokumyo Debabo 2000 and 6000. They have an intriguing stone known as the Ryu, which is a dual density of the same grit. I got one in 1k grit to try it out, but if the stones are like my 20k stones, I think I may have found a hone that beats out the choseras. Now I'm not putting down the choseras: I have the entire set of them and have been honing on them for years with a lot of satisfaction, but I wanted to try something different.

The Suehiro's are actually more expensive than the Choseras, if you can believe that; but I was so impressed with the one stone I purchased 10 Suehiros. They require a slightly different technique, but they have an amazing feel to them, and they leave a polished edge that "pops" hair upon contact; it's really amazing. If anybody has significant experience with these stones I'd love to hear your feedback. The back story I got on the company was that they created the stones essentially on a dare or something.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to tell you where I purchased them from, but it was a place in Japan. They gave me a great discount and were a joy to work with.

I've been honing since my grandfather taught me when I was 12, and it seems like the synthetic stones just keep getting better and better. I love, and rely on my choseras, but I must admit, I can't wait to get my honing hands on these Suehiros!!!!

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Take a minute to introduce yourself in the hall of fame whilst the other members check out this post.
Personally I don't have any experience with these hones. Do you have any pictures?

Guess you won't be needing the choseras anymore so please send them to me for disposal.

 

[paco664]

man.. you dropped a couple grand on some stones....

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Yeah but he said he will be PIFing me his Choseras so there's no harm done really.

 

[MaximusVessicus]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Take a minute to introduce yourself in the hall of fame whilst the other members check out this post.
Personally I don't have any experience with these hones. Do you have any pictures?

Guess you won't be needing the choseras anymore so please send them to me for disposal.

I'm sorry, but what and where is the "hall of fame"? I don't have pictures, as I haven't received them; but you can google the stones.

Actually I'm going to tile my back splash with the choseras, so sorry....you are out of luck!

 

[MaximusVessicus]

man.. you dropped a couple grand on some stones....

I actually got a relatively good deal on them. I bought them from Japan and got approximately 22% off; plus he upgraded my shipping to EMS, and threw in a special lapping stone for the Suehiro's. But yes, it was just about a couple grand...

 

[Doc226]

Welcome.

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Can't wait to see the results, hopefully you'll reach honing zen then we'll all be jumping on the bandwagon

 

[MaximusVessicus]

Welcome.

Thank you: I'm new to the advent of the forum, but not the realm of straight razors. Hoping to "hone" my existing knowledge, and share some experience too. Where is this "hall of fame"?

 

[paco664]

nice... you have a large collection of straights?? customs?? homemades??

 

[MaximusVessicus]

nice... you have a large collection of straights?? customs?? homemades??

I have about 20 straights that I use, another 50 that I'll be restoring, and I'm trying my hand at custom making razors. Just rented a "workshop" here in brooklyn for the low cost of $500 a month to keep all my equipment in. I'm experimenting with different types of metal; really want to try cobalt, but I haven't yet.

I have probably a 100 or so hones, mostly inherited from my grandfather. But I prefer to hone on synthetics, which I do professionally. I also professionally restore antique razors. It truly is a passion of mine.

 

[Doc226]

I have about 20 straights that I use, another 50 that I'll be restoring, and I'm trying my hand at custom making razors. Just rented a "workshop" here in brooklyn for the low cost of $500 a month to keep all my equipment in. I'm experimenting with different types of metal; really want to try cobalt, but I haven't yet.

I have probably a 100 or so hones, mostly inherited from my grandfather. But I prefer to hone on synthetics, which I do professionally. I also professionally restore antique razors. It truly is a passion of mine.

Great. Any pics of your work?

 

[BakerAndBadger]

This may just be the Ultimate Synthetic Hone!

 

[paco664]

I have about 20 straights that I use, another 50 that I'll be restoring, and I'm trying my hand at custom making razors. Just rented a "workshop" here in brooklyn for the low cost of $500 a month to keep all my equipment in. I'm experimenting with different types of metal; really want to try cobalt, but I haven't yet.

I have probably a 100 or so hones, mostly inherited from my grandfather. But I prefer to hone on synthetics, which I do professionally. I also professionally restore antique razors. It truly is a passion of mine.

i would love to see photos... we are photo hogs here......

100 stones.... damn... i only have 15 or so.. *(excluding lapping film)

i have read those water stones you bought from japan have a "weird" learning curve......

if i was gonna drop coin like that i would have picked up a set of shaptons....

but then again who am i kidding... i just use a coti then whatever finisher i feel like... thuri... welsh slate... purple slate... Jnat *(my favorite)...

 

[mainaman]

This may just be the Ultimate Synthetic Hone!

sorry to burst some bubbles but there is no such thing as ultimate.

@ OP by any chance the store you are talking about is Tools From Japan?
As far as cobalt do you mean pure cobalt or some alloy?

 

[MaximusVessicus]

i would love to see photos... we are photo hogs here......

100 stones.... damn... i only have 15 or so.. *(excluding lapping film)

i have read those water stones you bought from japan have a "weird" learning curve......

if i was gonna drop coin like that i would have picked up a set of shaptons....

but then again who am i kidding... i just use a coti then whatever finisher i feel like... thuri... welsh slate... purple slate... Jnat *(my favorite)...

Not a fan of cotis really, or any natural stones, with the exception of the Japanese naturals that had grits as high as 120,000k; I don't own any, but on vacation I was able to hold them when I visited a grand master black smith who makes chef knifes that go for $5k each; he uses the stones to polish his samurais. I'm in the process of moving, and I just got a new MacBook Pro so I have to transfer all my pics from my old pc. When I do I'll post what I have. It'll be a little bit because I'm focusing on wiring and plumbing my workshop in Brooklyn. Need to run three 220volt 20amp services and 7 120volt 15amp services, as well as put in a utility sink. I also need to modify a Jet buffer with a variable frequency drive, so my plate if full at the moment.

 

[casus4844]

I'm not to far from Japan if you don't mind let me know ....Please..... I'd love to see what the 1k would be capable of and how it compares to the choseras. Anything that makes the job easier is worth my money.

Also I'm a brooklynite but in Korea now.. Are you setting up shop in Bushwick or Redhook? just curious since those were where all the old factories were at. Can't wait to see the pics! I was thinking about trying Maxims 1K at JNS but since euro shipping is so high and shipping from Japan is so cheap, let's see how they look.

 

[paco664]

Not a fan of cotis really, or any natural stones, with the exception of the Japanese naturals that had grits as high as 120,000k; I don't own any, but on vacation I was able to hold them when I visited a grand master black smith who makes chef knifes that go for $5k each; he uses the stones to polish his samurais. I'm in the process of moving, and I just got a new MacBook Pro so I have to transfer all my pics from my old pc. When I do I'll post what I have. It'll be a little bit because I'm focusing on wiring and plumbing my workshop in Brooklyn. Need to run three 220volt 20amp services and 7 120volt 15amp services, as well as put in a utility sink. I also need to modify a Jet buffer with a variable frequency drive, so my plate if full at the moment.

those service lines will take about an afternoon to run *(providing you are a licensed electrician because new york don't play)

i own a Jnat..it is a fine finisher in the 15-18k range.... never heard of one that is 120k grit...

 

[MaximusVessicus]

sorry to burst some bubbles but there is no such thing as ultimate.

@ OP by any chance the store you are talking about is Tools From Japan?
As far as cobalt do you mean pure cobalt or some alloy?

An alloy...too expensive and dense to use pure.

Yes, Stuart Tierney of ToolsfromJapan.com is very fair, and a pleasure to deal with; tell him Mr. Morrison referred you and perhaps he'll give you a discodyunt as well, if interested.

I agree that superlatives such as "ultimate" are inherently conundrums, because somebody is always trying to build a better widget. With that said, at this point and time, it may me the ultimate hone...but that's a subjective opinion.

 

[mainaman]

Not a fan of cotis really, or any natural stones, with the exception of the Japanese naturals that had grits as high as 120,000k; I don't own any, but on vacation I was able to hold them when I visited a grand master black smith who makes chef knifes that go for $5k each; he uses the stones to polish his samurais.

Someone gave you all kinds of false information about razor quality Jnats. One thing that is true information is that they are not magical stones, the way one would use them is where the "magic" happens. A good quality Jnat makes anything above 10k totally useless.