Do any of you use an Escher after a Naniwa SS 12K?
Escher After Naniwa SS 12K?
- Thread starter raccoonandbrush
- Start date
All I can say is give it a try. The grit rating of both stones are pretty close to one another but they put an entirely different edge (feel) on a razor.
- Thread starter
- #3
Yeah, my thoughts are, hone the razor up to the SS 12K. Then finish the razor with an Escher to give the edge that nice natural stone finish.
A lot of guys do it, they say an Escher edge feels a bit better on their faces than the plain 12k nani edge. I like both, but lately I am using Jnats for finishing mainly. I stupidly sold all of my thuris and eschers, I will have to buy one in the near future 
Matt, I do not own an Escher and cannot give any comment on it. But this idea of honing up to the SS 12K with a synthetic progression and finishing on a natural stone was given to me by Alfredo (Doc). I did hone my TI 6/8 "Fox and Rooster" last time by using a Chosera 1K and Super Stones 5K - 8K - 12K. After the SS 12K I did 50 light laps on a Coticule wet with a few drops of mineral oil. Results were fantastic, with a very smooth edge. Hence, give it a try and let us know!
12K naniwa can cause chips in the edge if you don't stop on time. Make sure you know how to stop on the naniwa before going to the Escher or the Escher will not make the edge feel nice.
Escher is a final stone, use it last.
Escher is a final stone, use it last.
- Thread starter
- #7
That is the same progression I am planning on. I already have the Chosera 1K. I am going to be getting the SS 5K, 8K, and 12K. The Dark Blue Escher is on the way.
- Thread starter
- #8
What would you suggest the limit of laps is with the 12K?
If your doing a 12k after an 8K synthetic I would say probably 20 would be near the limit and I would use a Thuringian after a 12K or even after the 8k and skip the 12k altogether. A few more additional laps after the 8K with the Thuringian and you would have an edge just as keen and smooth.
- Thread starter
- #10
Ok, so I tried using the Escher after the Naniwa 12K. It came out great! Very close shave, but easy on the face.
Congrats, Matt!
I find the biggest feel on the face is the final stone.
There are minor and very subtle differences in the feel of a full nagura progression on a razor vs just a tomo finish. Very small but perceivable differences.
There are minor and very subtle differences in the feel of a full nagura progression on a razor vs just a tomo finish. Very small but perceivable differences.
- Thread starter
- #13
Thanks Marco!
- Thread starter
- #14
I agree.
Why only 20?
I thought it is up to stone and how fast it cut to determinate best amount of laps. Or am I wrong?
I thought it is up to stone and how fast it cut to determinate best amount of laps. Or am I wrong?
You are correct it is based on the stone and the razor as well. Some razors will take more strokes and some less. If the edge has been taken to the best level that stone has to offer in 20 laps the only thing you will accomplish in 50 laps is the possibility that you make a poor stroke and have to start all over but the edge will not benefit anymore.This of course also varies by the skill level of the user.
Last edited:
I've gone to Thuri's off 10-12k synths before (among them a 12k SS). The edge off the thuri is nicer in my opinion, but going to the 12k doesn't make much sense unless you're doing something peculiar like trying to jump from a 4k Norton to the thuri... in that case it may be a bit faster, but off of something like an 8k SS or a coticule, the 12k SS doesn't really offer much as a bridge to a Thuri. Coti to Thuri is faster than Coti to 12k SS to Thuri. And I'd imagine the same is true for 8k SS and other similar range finishes. The only use I really see for going to 12k SS as a prefinisher is if you have an extremely slow finisher, and Thuri's tend to be rather fast.
Even at 10k, I find that it's rarely a time saver to use my synthetic whetstones as a prefinisher before a whetstone. I'd guess the limit where I'd stop seeing a benefit to advancing further on synths before most finishing whetstones I've used is probably in the 6-8k range. If I really wanted a Superstone to use immediately prior to a Thuri, I'd probably go with an 8k, but a coticule fills that role for me just fine, and a DMT EE isn't bad either.
Even at 10k, I find that it's rarely a time saver to use my synthetic whetstones as a prefinisher before a whetstone. I'd guess the limit where I'd stop seeing a benefit to advancing further on synths before most finishing whetstones I've used is probably in the 6-8k range. If I really wanted a Superstone to use immediately prior to a Thuri, I'd probably go with an 8k, but a coticule fills that role for me just fine, and a DMT EE isn't bad either.
I agree with you 100%. Skills make difference. To add to this one-I have seen many times (during my honing) some razor totally dull after 1k but then come back to best performance and sharpness when I was still progressing with honing (3k,4k,6k,...) . I really never understood this and why it is happening. I thought that are my poor skill, but then I spent 100h with progress testing on 1K and I found out that really this is the way this razor perform. I guess this was one of example of poor steel or maybe poor production process. Or maybe it is really me and my honing skills, sorry lack of skills
We are getting off topic but i rarely can shave arm hair well off the 1k but my edges are very nice when done.
Last edited:
Similar threads
