Thread: What is a PHIG?

How about an Acronym for this instead of an abbreviation ? "M.I.S.T.A.K.E." mystery imperfect stone that always kills edge ! Just kidding for those of you that might love this hone! Just kidding

I don't know if it is still the case, but it used to seem that the best option for getting better ones was to get it at Woodcraft, where they are listed as Natural Water Stones.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I don't know if it is still the case, but it used to seem that the best option for getting better ones was to get it at Woodcraft, where they are listed as Natural Water Stones.

These things are starting to get more expensive. I think I paid $30 for mine including shipping, Woodcraft wants 40 for an 8x3, and ebay seems to be 35-45 depending on the seller. Much as I like my Guangxi hone, I'm not convinced they're a $50 rock. Especially in the condition mine came in - it still had saw marks from the blade that cut it on one face, and the other side looked like the natural face of the rock it was cut from. Took me 3 hours just to make the sawed face flat enough it could be polished and burnished, no idea how long it's going to take to clean up the backside.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

AlienEdge,,,actually there are two well known PHIGS, as the name well precedes any SRP member. Only one has been seen by the public.

The Frankenphig is one of the rarest of natural stones, as there is only one known to the public. This stone was found deep in dark mountains of Ingolstadt, Germany. A very slow cutter, but strong stone. The slurry is created differently than in other naturals. The slurry in the Frankenphig is created by an electric charge running from the south end of the stone, exiting the north end of the stone. Most slurry is raised by abrasion; the slurry on the Frankenphig is expelled from inside the stone.

Behold the Frankenphig,,,,,,,

Attachment 237580

Haha ive known you would chime in [emoji23][emoji23]

Originally Posted by Marshal

These things are starting to get more expensive. I think I paid $30 for mine including shipping, Woodcraft wants 40 for an 8x3, and ebay seems to be 35-45 depending on the seller. Much as I like my Guangxi hone, I'm not convinced they're a $50 rock. Especially in the condition mine came in - it still had saw marks from the blade that cut it on one face, and the other side looked like the natural face of the rock it was cut from. Took me 3 hours just to make the sawed face flat enough it could be polished and burnished, no idea how long it's going to take to clean up the backside.

So based on these prices and what was said earlier about getting through 2 or 3 to get a good one a naniwa 12k 10mm thick os sounding like a good deal. And lapping takes about 5 mins

Originally Posted by edhewitt

So based on these prices and what was said earlier about getting through 2 or 3 to get a good one a naniwa 12k 10mm thick os sounding like a good deal. And lapping takes about 5 mins

Well, in all fairness naturals are a gamble to start with. And his first was cracked. It's replacement was stolen by someone he sent it to for surface preparation (my guess would be that means it was a good rock). And the one he bought to replace that still hasn't been prepped and tested properly. So either of the two he already had could be great finishers (if you like slow naturals).

I've only bought one of these. It took about an hour to lap the rougher side. I had the advantage of a DMT 325 this time. The Norton lapping stone doesn't do a #@%$ thing to these stones, and sand paper is hardly better. If I were going to use it as a finisher I'd probably still have an hour of DMT scratch removal, polishing, and burnishing to do, but this is going to be the rough/slurry side so the DMT scratches will be advantageous.

The Naniwa still wins on 2 fronts - easier/faster to lap, and gets the job done faster. Cost...I would say the jury is out. There's still the ever present possibility of getting a 'bad' hone - or just one that differs from mine (which requires prep like an Arkansas stone to function properly).

This is my PHIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My PHIG is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

Without me, my PHIG is useless. Without my PHIG, I am useless. I must flatten my PHIG true. I must hone sharper to shave my beard that is trying to grow wild and free. I must shave him before he grows too long. I will...

My PHIG and I know that what counts in honing is not the thumb pad test, the arm hairs we shave, nor the HHT's we pass. We know that it is the shave that counts. We will shave...

My PHIG is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its slurry and its dilutions. I will keep my PHIG clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God, I swear this creed. My PHIG and I are the honers of my razor. We are the masters of our beard. We are the shaviors of my life. Amen.

So be it, until a razor burn free BBS shave is mine and there is no beard, but peace!


Sorry, I got inspired and couldn't help myself.

Originally Posted by Marshal

This is my PHIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My PHIG is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

Without me, my PHIG is useless. Without my PHIG, I am useless. I must flatten my PHIG true. I must hone sharper to shave my beard that is trying to grow wild and free. I must shave him before he grows too long. I will...

My PHIG and I know that what counts in honing is not the thumb pad test, the arm hairs we shave, nor the HHT's we pass. We know that it is the shave that counts. We will shave...

My PHIG is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its slurry and its dilutions. I will keep my PHIG clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God, I swear this creed. My PHIG and I are the honers of my razor. We are the masters of our beard. We are the shaviors of my life. Amen.

So be it, until a razor burn free BBS shave is mine and there is no beard, but peace!


Sorry, I got inspired and couldn't help myself.

,,,,,,,,,,,

Originally Posted by Hirlau

AlienEdge,,,actually there are two well known PHIGS, as the name well precedes any SRP member. Only one has been seen by the public.

The Frankenphig is one of the rarest of natural stones, as there is only one known to the public. This stone was found deep in dark mountains of Ingolstadt, Germany. A very slow cutter, but strong stone. The slurry is created differently than in other naturals. The slurry in the Frankenphig is created by an electric charge running from the south end of the stone, exiting the north end of the stone. Most slurry is raised by abrasion; the slurry on the Frankenphig is expelled from inside the stone.

Behold the Frankenphig,,,,,,,

Attachment 237580

That ain't funny, Hirlau!

Originally Posted by Marshal

This is my PHIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My PHIG is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

Without me, my PHIG is useless. Without my PHIG, I am useless. I must flatten my PHIG true. I must hone sharper to shave my beard that is trying to grow wild and free. I must shave him before he grows too long. I will...

My PHIG and I know that what counts in honing is not the thumb pad test, the arm hairs we shave, nor the HHT's we pass. We know that it is the shave that counts. We will shave...

My PHIG is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its slurry and its dilutions. I will keep my PHIG clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God, I swear this creed. My PHIG and I are the honers of my razor. We are the masters of our beard. We are the shaviors of my life. Amen.

So be it, until a razor burn free BBS shave is mine and there is no beard, but peace!


Sorry, I got inspired and couldn't help myself.

A beautiful stone. I would say there are none like it as each one is uniquely different. Again I would say A beautiful stone. One of a kind. The first one I got I learned it. I don't know if there are that many bad stones or just bad honers as some people have a hard time even with synthetics. I think if you know what you're doing you should be able to adjust to just about any stone and get it to work well. If they range in quality as a razor finisher then I believe there is a Guangxi river stone out there that is better than any other C12K stone on the market. Able to put the keenest smoothest edge on a razor in the best time (compared to other PHIGS). Shhhhh. I think I might have it.