Thread: Suehiro Stones

Originally Posted by Botanic

you could try to relap it to make surface fresh, not so glassy and clean from human skin oils and etc.
2nd tip - try to add a coupe of drops of cleanser and with a little doze of water cover all surface of the stone.
You will see does it work or not: if it works there will be a darker spot due to water absorbation.

I think you are reading my question incorrectly, there's nothing wrong with the 20K it works perfectly well I use it to hone hundreds of razors each year, and the stone gets lapped on a regular basis, I'm just wondering does the stone absorb any water as it doesn't appear to.

ok)
GMN series can absorb a bit water but it's just about very very thin surface layer. less than 0.3mm. ..I didn't measure it, sorry.
But it's about fresh and clean surface - - after a couple sessions of sharpening water won't absorb almost at all.

Originally Posted by earcutter

I’ll be happy to! According to the store, they take about two weeks before even shipping! I did get expedited shipping though, so hopefully in three weeks?

Either way, I can tell you what I think all day long when they get in, and i’ll Compare em to my other stones, but if there any “definitive” tests I can do without breaking a stone, let me know.

Now back to HAD. It never ends does it? Lol. Enjoy.

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

I think you are reading my question incorrectly, there's nothing wrong with the 20K it works perfectly well I use it to hone hundreds of razors each year, and the stone gets lapped on a regular basis, I'm just wondering does the stone absorb any water as it doesn't appear to.

I've never noticed any water absorption but then I've never soaked it, just spray and go

I can tell you this, I have had one of their 3K stones for 10+ years and will say its a good stone. It is a very soft stone, I imagine it is to imitate clay based naturals. Its thirsty and must stay wet or it will start to clog. I use this stone a lot with knife making, less on razors. Which series is it...I have no clue. I just know its a 8x3 cream colored Suehiro on a cedar or similar wood base.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

I've never noticed any water absorption but then I've never soaked it, just spray and go

That's interesting - now don't get me wrong, I have no idea what I'm talking about because, well, I don't have one, but here goes.

Back when I got my Nani's, I used to soak my stones before honing. They worked great. Then one day my combo stone, my 3/8K started to separate and warp. I was told to stop soaking by the vendor, so I did.

Worst advise ever. My Nani's do not cut worth a darn when they are just sprayed down vs. soaked. I had bad hone after bad hone just spraying. The difference in performance for me, when I soak my Nani's vs. spray them is freaking HUGE. I only figured that out after mistakenly soaking a stone again when I got distracted. I'll never not soak a stone again. But that's me... I am NO honester! I'm just a guy with some stuff that makes other stuff sharp if I do my part lol.

That said, the set that I got here, the "Oil/Water" stones, as dense as they reportedly are will be submerged for long periods of time before use. Unless I switch to a vegetable oil. We'll see. All I'm trying to say is I'm a saturation whore. I like em wet!

The SG20k surely doesn't seem to absorb any water at all, or if so, it's approximately what botanic described as 0.3mm into the surface, or effectively nil.

My Naniwa Super Stones have all warped away from their (crappy, plastic) bases using the necessary 5 minute soak. No cracking or crazing, and I always do about half a dozen figure-8s with the DMT325 prior to use, so they have managed to stay pretty much flat at the working surface.

Originally Posted by Speedster

The SG20k surely doesn't seem to absorb any water at all, or if so, it's approximately what botanic described as 0.3mm into the surface, or effectively nil.

My Naniwa Super Stones have all warped away from their (crappy, plastic) bases using the necessary 5 minute soak. No cracking or crazing, and I always do about half a dozen figure-8s with the DMT325 prior to use, so they have managed to stay pretty much flat at the working surface.

Hey do you "figure 8" before or after the soak?

After soaking -- or stabilizing -- each stone per Glen's 3-part Naniwa SS honing videos.

I only soak the lower grit Naniwas. My 10k is used as a splash and go too.