Great thread! :thumbup:
I would like to add something about the HHT, but first a little something about my experience with synthetic hones.
I can't comment on the Naniwa Superstone12K, because I 've never used it. But I do own a Naniwa Chosera 10K, and albeit a different hone, I think it behaves more or less the same, meaning: like a typical high-grit synthetic whetstone.
It's not difficult to end up with a slightly too keen edge on the Chosera. Some people will refuse to call it that way, probably out of a certain machismo, but to me, an edge that shaves effortlessly, looks perfect under the microscope, yet degrades my skin condition after one or two shaves in a row, I call "too keen". It not only severs beard hairs easily, but also catches skin cells at the same effort.
Obviously, this is a variable that will differ individually and also personal shaving style will have its influence. I could get totally effortless shaves from a Chosera10K edge. Shaves that left my skin without any trace of remaining stubble. Though at the same time unaccountable bleeding specks emerged randomly spread, and after two shaves my skin would become strangely fuzz-looking. 10 swipes over a Coticule with water and these ill edge effects are completely gone. Has the Coticule "dialed back keenness?" I believe it has, and it doesn't bother me in the least. It is called shaving, which is something men occasionally do. Not some kind of "Look ma, I am wielding the sharpest blade in the Northern Hemisphere"-contest for guys that never quite developed past adolescent insecurities.
But I was planning to add something about the HHT. In my experience, the HHT really must be interpret differently with each different hone one utilizes. That is certainly true when we discern between hones of different families, but even within the Coticule family, the HHT will display different responses between various specimen. La Grosse Blanches, e.g. are Coticules off which I generally do not expect jaw dropping HHT-scores. I just try to get it as high as it will go, often that is a "fumbled" HHT-3 at 8mm from the holding point, on a thick hair only, and after stropping such edges will be hard to beat for comfort, and they shave as effortlessly as the Chosera.
There were times where I would refuse to test shave if my HHT off the stone was any less than a clean HHT-3, bordering on 4. In retrospect, and with what I have learned since then, I am sure that I missed out on some great edges. The message is to only rely on the finer readings of the HHT with confidence, after you really became thoroughly acquainted with the exact hone you're using.
Kind regards,
Bart.
