[Forzato]

QUICK REVIEW:
The Kitayama 12000 grit waterstone is considered by many to be one of the best final polishing hones for a straight razor. The sampled stone performed well - providing a keen edge, but is not inexpensive at $80 US. It is recommended.



A MORE IN DEPTH REVIEW:
The Kitayama is a Japanese waterstone that is available online. It is designed to be the final hone used (typically) before stropping and shaving. The tested Kitayama 12k stone came with a nagura stone for cleaning or making a slurry. The main (Kitayama) stone is mounted permanently on a stained wood base. Both the Kitayama stone and the nagura stone needed a thorough lapping (and corner rounding of the main stone) before their first use. Lapping and honing with this stone is done wet. Before honing, some users like to make a slurry with the nagura stone. The reviewer found the slurry less effective than fresh water in providing the sharpest edge. The nagura stone is effective in cleaning the main Kitayama stone when lightly rubbed together in the presence of water. Note that the nagura stone pictured is worn down ~2/3rds.

The bevel of the razor used to examine this Kitayama was prepared in two separate ways: 1) by honing on a Norton 4k/8k, and 2) by backhoning on 1500 grit 3M wet sandpaper placed over a marble tile (under constant running water). The Kitayama brought both types of prepared bevels to a perfect razor edge.

While not inexpensive the Kitayama seems to generally deliver on it's claims. There may exist some debate as to whether this is really a 12k grit or closer to a 8k grit. The Kitayama utilized did not polish as well nor as quickly as a properly functioning Norton 8k waterstone (note that this did not impair the shave). However the Kitayama did not demonstrate the embedded grit problem that can be a catastrophic defect with some other stones. This stone allowed for an extremely keen, perfect razor edge... needing only a stropping to be shave ready. Since this stone seems to reliably avoid the embedded grit problem it is recommended despite it providing only one grit for the price (vs Norton 4000 - 8000 waterstone).



The reviewer welcomes any feedback.

[bjrn]

Originally Posted by Forzato

The Kitayama 12000 grit waterstone is considered by many to be one of the best final polishing hones for a straight razor.

Really? I think I've read a few people writing that it's a good stone, but can be considered similar to the Norton 8000 when it comes to coarsness, unless used with slurry when it can become somewhat finer. But what you describe sounds pretty much the opposite.

Just a few questions out of curiosity: how long have you been using it, do you have any other finishing hones, and with how many people have you discussed the "embedded grit problem" about the Kitayama 12K (or how many of them have you owned)?

[Forzato]

bjrn,

Thanks for the feedback - keep it coming.

Indeed Lynn Abrams references the Kitayama in his terrific DVD 'Lynn Abrams World of Straight Razor Shaving' ...and if Lynn recommends it well then it's worth a look.

Using magnification I observed better edges without slurry than with.

In total, a single Kitayama stone was utilized for ~10 hours of honing for this review.

The control (comparison) stone was a properly working Norton 4k/8k waterstone.

Besides actual side-by-side comparison testing, the data for the embedded grit problem was provided by the SRP website itself... there are numerous threads/posts that discuss significant grit issues with the Norton and few to none regarding any grit issues with the Kitayama.

Thanks again.

[bjrn]

Thanks for the replies.

[Mike_ratliff]

I use a Kitayama 12000 stone on all of the razors I hone, and find it to be significantly finer than both my Norton 8000 and my translucent Arkansas stones.

When examining the edge under 30X magnification the difference between the 8k and Kitayama is easily seen... almost as signifigant as the difference in the scratch pattern of 4k compared to 8k And the smoothness of the shave is easily improved with the kitayama when coming off the Norton 8k.

although I personally find it necessary to finish with 1/2 and 1/4 micron pastes, the Kitayama is a crucial step in my sharpening routine.

I have had the best performance off mine with a very thin slurry.

[DwarvenChef]

This stone is well known in the kitchen knife arena for polished bevels. In regards to the grit questions it has come up a few times there as well. What many accept as an answer it that the grit breaks down as you use the stone. So the slurry will eventually get smoother.

A nakiri with a polished edge on this stone will fall right through an apple It took a while before I noticed the sharpness degrade. Great stone

I tried one at a local gathering of kitchen knife nuts It's a stone that is on my list of must haves

[Bruno]

How does it compare to a coticule?

The coticule is the only finishing stone I have, and the difference between coticule finish and 8K Norton is remarkable, so I am curious about the Kitayama / coticule difference.

[Mike_ratliff]

I don't have a coticule yet...
maybe this is a question Lynn can answer for us...
I know he mentions both in his DVD, but i can't remember what he says.