Thread: Amazon Bluesun hones test

Originally Posted by DaveW

I have one of those green ones already, but at that price with shipping, I bought a second one.

How is that green stone?

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Originally Posted by nicknbleeding

How is that green stone?

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I only have one, which means I don't know how consistent they are.

They feel like they're made of slightly duller particles and they cut really slowly. So if you think of an arkansas stone (which has fairly large particles for a super finisher, and tires out quickly - which is how you can make it work for you to finish a razor), they're like that but even further in that direction. I'd almost say they feel like an arkansas stone that had the particles coated with plastic - a hard stone with a soft feel - and very slow (but you can always add a little pressure with a stone like that).

In terms of use, because it's so slow and because it's not raising anything at the edge, you can pretty much slide the razor around on it any way you'd like and it will improve the condition of the bevel. Whether or not that ultimately makes a difference in the shave, I don't know, but mine is capable of making as smooth of a shave as anything (and I mean anything, no matter the price level). If you pussyfoot around with the stone and just take light heel leading strokes like you'd take with a synthetic, the stone will never do anything, though. I could see lapping 1000 heel leading strokes with it and still not removing the stria from an 8k synthetic.

An ark is like that to a lesser extent, and so is a good phig. On all of those, I think it's useful to use moderate pressure at the start of the finishing and then taper the pressure off to finish, but I doubt it matters at all what direction the strokes are or what kind they are.

For $27, though, if you can think out of the box a little bit with them (like deviating from the low pressure on final honing that's the general rule), they have the potential to make a spectacular edge.

One side comment - once in a great while, I'll get something that feels like a stray particle, but they are dull feeling particles - it's not harsh like losing track of a piece of alumina or something.

I'll try to come up with some pictures of a good edge. I took pictures of an edge with the green chinese stone years ago, but the edge that I had in the picture had a little damage on, so it was misleading. I think that was an issue of the edge not quite being finished, and not the stone (but I don't remember).

Anyway, if someone is wanting to play with stones, but do it on the cheap, these are probably great. Even if you don't use the stone on razors ultimately, they make a fantastic burr chaser for knives and tools, because they don't really remove much metal and don't raise a wire edge.

Originally Posted by nicknbleeding

How is that green stone?

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http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...faux-jade.html

I was fiddling with the green stone in this thread. The pictures of its work show that it leaves a very low-scratch surface. *must* bring a nearly finished edge to it, though. Sorry about the picture quality - the fact that each hone leaves different quality scratches (some very reflective, some not) on the surface of the razor bevel means the microscope software adjusts differently for the light and the pictures can't really be compared directly because of that.

Originally Posted by Marshal

True, but Coticules are easy to identify even for a newcomer. That yellow and black coloring is fairly unique. Arkansas stones can be as well if you've seen a few pictures. Thuris and the like are more difficult to pick out I think.

I might order one of those green ones tonight.

Edit: I haven't seen them that cheap though. I thought those were the either the 4" x 2" or the 8" x 1" wide ones, and either of those is just a touch too small on one dimension for me.

Doggone it. I couldn't stand it and ordered one this morning. Too cool looking to resist. I'll pretend that I'm honing on jade

The stone came in today. Lapped fairly flat and coated in oil. I finished the lapping and burnished on a piece of well-worn 1K wet/dry. Beautiful stone. Shines like a piece of polished marble! I have not honed on it yet but the grain resembles a surgical black arkie. I wonder if these are a different color novaculite??

Next razor that needs a touchup will be the first chance to try it out.

Cedar box WAS NOT included.

Originally Posted by kelbro

Cedar box WAS NOT included.

Let us know when you try it.

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Originally Posted by kelbro

Cedar box WAS NOT included.

Beautiful to look at! I went back throught the thread and do not see what it is or where it came from. Sorry if it's obvious and I'm just dense.

Originally Posted by Jlander

Beautiful to look at! I went back throught the thread and do not see what it is or where it came from. Sorry if it's obvious and I'm just dense.

Another Chinese natural stone. Marshal posted about it on the second page. Got it off eBay.

Home Beyond Natural Green Polish Oil Stone Knife Sharpener M99G 10000# Whetstone

Thanks. Got it. Yeah I saw that earlier. At that price I hope it works well as a finisher.