Thread: Chinese Waterstone 12k

Originally Posted by Razorfaust

If I found myself on a Desert Island and had to have the absolute minimum in the way of Razor maintenance gear. I would be perfectly happy with a Naniwa 3/8 combo stone a strop and a stick of SRD Chromium oxide. I could shave forever with that.

Will this be ok for a razor? This particular model is actually rated 1000/3000 grit. I understand the dims to be 175x55x25mm.

Naniwa 1k is good for setting bevels and the 3k is good for removing the 1K scratches and starting the polishing process. You'll probably want something higher grit than that for your intended purpose. The reason he mentioned the 3k/8K is the 3K can* be used to set a bevel, it's just slower than the 1K, and you can* jump from the 3K to the 8K without the intermediate 5K step. Again, it's just a bit slower than going 1/3/5/8. And 8K seems to be the starting point for a pleasurable close, clean, and comfortable shave.

If you're looking to maintain an edge that's already shave ready, I might suggest a Naniwa 10 or 12K. Maintaining a razor that's already ready is a good place to start learning to hone. And you can always add in a lower grit stone here or there as needed.

In regard to your C12K, I would suggest cleaning those scratches away and making sure the surface is as smooth as 320 can get it before moving on to 600. Once you have a good scratch-free 1000 or 2000 grit surface on it you should be more or less ready to hone with it. If your hone came with a rubbing stone like mine did, I suggest rounding the edges. otherwise when the stone rolls - and it will roll - you'll scratch the hone's surface. And polish it's surface the same. The good thing about rubbing stones is, if used right they should keep your hone from dishing and they'll keep the surface refreshed and ready to work, without having to lap and polish the hone to refresh it.

Second lapping completed up to 600 grit WD paper, there are still some minor scratches visible but I think these are new. Just for fun I decided to attempt my first razor hone, the seller of my Bengall suggested the edge only required a finishing hone so I got to work. I have no experience to gauge how long a honing session should take but I feel safe in my assumption that two episodes of House of Cards B2B is probably too long. On a positive note I don't believe I have found any other task to be so therapeutic. the edge IS noticeably sharper and cutting the fine hairs of my forearm, but it's not as keen as my Revisor. I think either my technique needs improving (guaranteed), or possibly I need a slightly coarser stone for my vintage blade.

My PHIG was sent without a rubbing stone, will any type do?

Update:

I have purchased the Dragons Tongue Welsh slate with slurry stone from AJ on eBay. Yes I know, it's a natural again and I probably should have gone synthetic for the consistency, but I somehow feel part of the fun is in the experimenting. If I'm correct in my assumption it should be a softer - coarser stone than my C12, I am hoping to use the two together with the C12 as a finisher. Having the new Revisor certainly helps as a guide.

From where did you get the new Revisor? What I'm really wondering is who honed your new Revisor?

My Ebay PHIG is almost a mirror finish and VERY hard with a few inclusions like yours. Mine needs a lot of laps but produces a super edge. I usually do 3 sets of 20 half x-strokes then 50 regular laps. I never slurry mine and use it strictly as a water only finisher

Originally Posted by Utopian

From where did you get the new Revisor? What I'm really wondering is who honed your new Revisor?

I bought it direct and it arrived shave ready, no seriously, shave ready.��

Originally Posted by rodb

My Ebay PHIG is almost a mirror finish and VERY hard with a few inclusions like yours. Mine needs a lot of laps but produces a super edge. I usually do 3 sets of 20 half x-strokes then 50 regular laps. I never slurry mine and use it strictly as a water only finisher

Interesting, I have arrived at the conclusion that it will serve best on already sharp edges.

I use mine after my Norton 4k/8k or Coticule. Slurry on mine seems to kill the edge a bit and also takes away the mirror finish on the stone which seems to be the magic with this hone. Sticktion on mine is very strong and can almost make it difficult to do laps unless i add a drop of dish soap

Originally Posted by TomP30

Interesting, I have arrived at the conclusion that it will serve best on already sharp edges.

Originally Posted by TomP30

Interesting, I have arrived at the conclusion that it will serve best on already sharp edges.

These stones are so versatile you can use them many different ways and for different purposes. They are great for an already sharp edge and used as rodb does. That's a great place to start with them anyways. I still use mine along with Arkansas stones because it is so versatile and the edges it can produce are, in my opinion, amazing. Never mind the price point