Thread: Chinese 12k: Wet vs. Dry

I find the whole wet/dry debate interesting. I was under the impression that with softer stones, you would cut faster but not get as fine an edge with water because a slurry forms. And with harder stones that won't form a slurry, I thought water formed some kind of a buffer to allow for a finer edge. Is that not universal?

Perhaps a wet vs dry summery for various stones in a sticky? Then again, it might vary from razor to razor and based on each person's individual technique.

Originally Posted by SteveS

Have you shave-tested any of the blades? Are they smooth-feeling on the face, as well as sharp?

I shaved yesterday with one of the blades I dry honed(refreshed edge) on the 12k. Let me tell you it was smooooooooth!!!!! The blade was a Crown & Sword 5/8. That blade was never that smooth. I was going to sell it but now I am reconsidering.

Raf

This post has given me greater initiative to dust off my Chinese 12K and put it back in honing rotation; Admittedly I've only used it a few times and purchased it just before going whole hog on the Shaptons.

The way I've neglected the 12K, I harken back to 2.5+ decades ago when I was in Junior High School. The 12K on my honing shelf is like the new kid that you know would be a great person to befriend, but instead you brush him off and ignore him. Worse yet, I'm like a disrespectful bully; I've been using it as a flat surface to tape my chromed newspaper to for edge polishing! Man do I feel guilty now! Especially since I was never a bully in school!

Chris L

I will be giving this a try tomorrow. Very interesting thread!

My 12k seems to polish the metal better when used dry, but feels like it cuts faster with water. I can't really tell the difference in the shave quality either way. Both are great.

Most natural finishing stones do well dry, just depends on the stone I guess. The Muller Thuringian that I have does better dry than it does wet, but one of my vintage Thuringers prefers water; trial and error is half the fun of natural stones! They each have their own personality.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

I will be giving this a try tomorrow. Very interesting thread!

Okay Randy, times up. Have you tried it dry yet?

Not yet but tomorrow will be a good time to try it. I may have 3-4 razors to hone tomorrow!

i like mine done wet. infact i keep a cup of water next to me while honing so that i can put a few drops of water on the hone when it dries out on top. thats my vote

~J

ps. i love the chinese 12k. still gets my vote as a top notch finisher especially at that price its unbeatable.

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

My 12k seems to polish the metal better when used dry, but feels like it cuts faster with water. I can't really tell the difference in the shave quality either way. Both are great...

I feel the same way about the Spyderco Fine and UF hones, and even my combo coticule. Big difference when wet v dry when cutting, but not much difference on the shave feel.

If I recall correctly, the pictures on Zowada's website showed that most stones gave a finer bevel finish with NO slurry vs. with slurry. In the paragraph before the pictures it says that ALL stones were used wet, except the spyderco which was used dry. Spyderco recommends that you use the ultra fine stone dry.


Ben