Thread: Anyone use this stone?

I am thinking about buying this stone to use after the 8000k?
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/144...8-x-2-x-1.aspx

1. Anyone else using it or have used it?
2. How do I need to prep it for first time use?
3. Do I need a slurry or just water?

Search Guangxi hone, PHIG, Chinese 12k - you will get more info than you asked for.

Your probably right. I'll get more info than I want to view.
I know Whipped Dog cuts these up and sells them. I've read up on them quite a bit, but its hard to sift through all of the other comparisons and products. I just want to know if they work well and the questions I asked.
-Thanks

I think I found my answer. I would like to delete this thread.

Originally Posted by JustN

I think I found my answer. I would like to delete this thread.

I just finished a couple of razors on this hone the other day. For the money it is a great stone. Super smooth shaves result from it. They do vary a lot. Its been said that the ones with like tiger stripes or stretch marks are better. I don't know about the ones from woodcraft but there is a guy on the bay from Poland that sells them and mine is from him and its great. A lot of other people have had the same opinion on his stones. Probably one of my more favorite finishers too. Feels like honing on silk.

To prep it for first time use I would just make sure that it is flat. Lap it if you need to. I notice that mine gets smoother with use and thus a slightly finer finish. I some times will use mine with slurry right after setting the bevel kinda like how some do with a coticule and dilute it slowly to clear water and finish on it. Or sometimes I just use it with clear water after a coticule. They are on the slow side even for naturals. Again though for the price you can't get a better value for that level of finish.

Originally Posted by JustN

I think I found my answer. I would like to delete this thread.

Oh no, not just yet. Tell us what you have learned, that is what we are here for. Some people love these stones. Very very hard, you just can't be quite certain of the grit. But with a little testing you can find out where they fit in a grit progression and be great finishers. Plus they are CHEAP!!! I have one and it really isn't that bad. If I didn't have my shapton GS 16k I would probably use this one more.

Another member I know via Facebook told me basically the same thing that cosperryan said. Only he mentioned that some of the stones are paper weights and some are good stones. Its a gamble when you buy them.

Also I bet lapping this stone with the flattening stone that came with my Norton wouldn't be a good idea. I don't own a diamond plate yet.

Originally Posted by JustN

Also I bet lapping this stone with the flattening stone that came with my Norton wouldn't be a good idea. I don't own a diamond plate yet.

It can be done with the flattening stone but it will take a LONG LONG time, and you may get some scratches on the stone, but it will still finish ok but not to its best ability, until the diamond plate. Do you have any woodworking shops near you that you can call and stop in to see what selections they have (inspect the stone before you buy), because I noticed that the closest Woodcraft is about 2 hrs from your city.

Yup, you can pick up a PHIG for a decent price.

I've used water and honing solution on it. As you would expect for such a hard fine stone it is slow going. I would hone to at least 8k on other hones before picking up the PHIG to finish.

Mine came with a slurry stone. I'm not sure the slurry helps much. With practice it gives a very good finishing edge.