Quote Originally Posted by ColdbyDesign View Post
I never have needed to soak my Nani12k. I just wet it and go. I've never noticed a difference in its abilities as a finisher whether I had soaked it or not. If you're like me, you probably prefer the natural stone at least in some respects because it's more of a challenge than the 12k. Great info on this thread guys!
For me I like naturals because they are more of a gamble and more of a challenge. There is just something in me that likes knowing I took a rock (plain simple rock yet a very special rock) and was able to obtain an edge of remarkable keenness able to smoothly shave a face to the point of BBS!!! A skill that has been diminishing with synthetics and sharpening systems (knives). A skill that is not easily learned and with a rock that NOONE else has which is exactly the same. I think that is the draw to a natural stone for me.