First Impressions: Naniwa

[Earcutter]

First Impressions: Naniwa

Came home to a couple of Naniwa’s at the front door today –1, 3, 8 and 10K. Woot!

The first thing I noted was how very smooth they were. It’s been a while since I used a Norton but they certainly felt smoother than what I remember the Norton’s to have been – especially the 1K. I had moments of thinking that they had mislabeled it.

They all needed lapping – I did as much. I used the lapping stone they sell after making sure it was flat too.

They aren’t as fast as I thought they would be – I am glad for that. But you can speed things up by running the lapping stone over them a little. They provide very little feedback and the razor “jumps” very little. I found they needed to be sprayed down now and again during work.

I honed up a Swede that was very generously “donated” to me by a fellow member who knows my love for thinner blades. Swede’s have a reputation for being hard and needing a bit of extra honing over say a German blade, but the Nani’s made short work of it.

I had to make a presentation tonight so I cleaned up a bit beforehand (sigh); so I probably can’t give the blade the true test of a shave until tomorrow or Saturday - but I’ll report back.

Again this is all initial thoughts, but they did feel alittle soulless compared to a natural stone. BUT if the blade I honed today shaves as well as I think it will – none of that will matter too much. The fact that I set a bevel and honed it up to 10K all in less time than I would have spent setting the bevel on the Coti, is simply remarkable. I am well pleased so far.

[Kentos]

Can't beat a synthetic for consistency thats for sure!

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I have to admit it wasn’t the way I thought I was going to go – synthetics that is. But buddy honed up a couple of razors for me on his set and I was shocked at how sharp they were. And smooth too. So I got a set.

Besides, as much as I wanted to get a Jnat or three, I have to admit – one just has to kind of jump in with those. I feel a little overwhelmed with all the different ratings and hardness levels etc, etc. With them costing as much as they do, I figure I’ll try them after getting the synthetics down… and finding someone to “hold my hand” as it were lol.

Would it be silly to polish on a Coti after a naniwa 10K you figure?

[gary haywood]

yes you can ...

[Kentos]

I think it depends on how fine a coticule you have, and how good you are finishing on water.
TBO I didnt nurture the skill needed to bring a coticule to max sharpness. I instead went to CBN sprays, which brings the Coticule edge right up to and past a 12k Naniwa edge(IMO) while maintaining the Coticule smoothness, but only to a point. The sharper you get the less pressure you need, and even then too many passes sometimes leads to mild irritation for me. An unadulterated Coticule edge, while almost weeper and irritation proof, is just uncomfortable ATG for me.
Jnats are a different animal, and I can get a kamisori pretty darn sharp without finishing on sprays...but on westerns my technique falls short. YMMV of course .

[danjared]

Would it be silly to polish on a Coti after a naniwa 10K you figure?

Nope, nothing wrong with that. In fact, there was a time when Bart did something similar with a Chosera 10k. Also, if you want to compare with what a maxed out coticule edge will feel like but haven't had a chance yet, Gary and I both would be glad to hone a razor for you.

[honed]

Naniwa superstones has no soul, just like you stated. They will instead eat your soul a little each time you use them
They surely get the job done, but the chewing gum feeling & constant glazing/clogging/lapping is just to much for me.

But this wasn't about me, was it

You can surely go to a coticule after the 10K, it enhances the edge IMO.
Also a simple CrOx-pasted piece of *whatever* will make a big difference after the 10K Super.

And if I were you, I'd take danjared up on that offer, his coticule edges are spectacular, even for a synthetic junkie like myself.

[gary haywood]

sure would ...i found the coticule just put that natural feel to the edge , i aso found you have to be carful not to over do it on 10k. the coticule was used ater 8k norton, taking your edge to 10k then coticule should be fine. just try it and go by your own experiannce

gary

[PapaFish]

I'll second Honed in that you should try one of danjared's edges. I bought a neat old razor from him, which he had honed up... very nice and smooth. It's the only Coti edge I have tried, and it left a very good impression!

[Earcutter]

It never fails to amaze me how helpful you guys are here on B&B!! Thanks for the responses.

I have my "test razor" and will try it on the Nani only -> then Nani/Coti -> then Nani/Coti Chinese 12K. It'll be a fun little test and I'll keep you guys posted in case you might be wondering.

Nope, nothing wrong with that. In fact, there was a time when Bart did something similar with a Chosera 10k. Also, if you want to compare with what a maxed out coticule edge will feel like but haven't had a chance yet, Gary and I both would be glad to hone a razor for you.

Awesome offer!! Thank you! I think I will take you up on that. I'll send you the exact same razor that buddy honed for me on his Naniwa's which sold me. I don't use it often, and it'll be a good one to measure with. I wonder though? Do you hone Kami's? I love my Kami but i can't hone it worth a bean and hence, it's fallen out of my rotation. I was going to give it a go on the Nani's but honing a Kami on a synthetic (to me) just seems so wrong lol.

[danjared]

It never fails to amaze me how helpful you guys are here on B&B!! Thanks for the responses.

I have my "test razor" and will try it on the Nani only -> then Nani/Coti -> then Nani/Coti Chinese 12K. It'll be a fun little test and I'll keep you guys posted in case you might be wondering.



Awesome offer!! Thank you! I think I will take you up on that. I'll send you the exact same razor that buddy honed for me on his Naniwa's which sold me. I don't use it often, and it'll be a good one to measure with. I wonder though? Do you hone Kami's? I love my Kami but i can't hone it worth a bean and hence, it's fallen out of my rotation. I was going to give it a go on the Nani's but honing a Kami on a synthetic (to me) just seems so wrong lol.

I'll PM you.

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Well gents I just shaved off the Naniwa only test razor! Great shave.

It's the first time I have used the Naniwa's and it's the first time I shaved with that razor so if it was this good... That said, so far i am liking the Coti edge a bit more - but then I don't know if it was the razor or whatever. We'll see as we progress. I will say this one more time though - I honed that blade in no time with the Nani. If you don't like honing - Nani's should be on the radar.

I'll be finishing it with the Coti next and will post then. So far so good!

[danjared]

Naniwa superstones has no soul, just like you stated. They will instead eat your soul a little each time you use them
They surely get the job done, but the chewing gum feeling & constant glazing/clogging/lapping is just to much for me.

But this wasn't about me, was it

You can surely go to a coticule after the 10K, it enhances the edge IMO.
Also a simple CrOx-pasted piece of *whatever* will make a big difference after the 10K Super.

And if I were you, I'd take danjared up on that offer, his coticule edges are spectacular, even for a synthetic junkie like myself.

Your synthetic edges are pretty spectacular, even for a naturals junkie like me!

[honed]

Your synthetic edges are pretty spectacular, even for a naturals junkie like me!