Thread: Slurry stones too!!

Originally Posted by Aerdvaark

I think earlier on in this hobby I did not really see the need for a slurry stone. I thought that if the natural stone was any good it would not need it. That led to a lot of disappointing experiences with different types of hones. Escher DB was too slow, Vermio and ILR virtually worthless on their own without making hundreds of laps, CNAT was too sticky etc...

In the early days of Vermio, Keith Johnson (tomonagura) made a Youtube video honing on it. I think that was an honest review. I remember him saying that slurry VS no slurry on Vermio made little, to no difference. Not sure that I agree with that, my experience has been different. I go as far as to use glycerine on a Vermio to push it even further. There is a definite difference.

As for the DB Escher, I own that one too, and yes the slurry speeds it up. Like Vermio, it's a finishing stone. It isn't supposed to cut fast, but to polish and mellow down the edge. Anyway, that's just my experience and my stones. As with all natural stones, no two specimens are the same.

CNAT, I've only tried one. I read there is a big variation between them, so it's hard to make a valid comment. The one I used also gets sticky, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. A stone that is fine and doesn't get too sticky (jnats and Eschers, some coticules come to mind) can cost high $$$, due to their properties and performance. In my experience, I want the cnat to get real sticky because that's when I know it's maxed out. It's just how that particular stone works.