Thread: Chosera

Originally Posted by STF

Zulu Grey isn't a hone Jerry, it's a little alien

Looks like a hone to me. But what do i know.

Originally Posted by STF

I just went to Amazon.ca.

Surprisingly the 1K Gouken Arata is $115, the full size Chosera is less at $106.

Well that's weird, thinner stone for more money. Anyhoo $106 is a good price I'd grab it.

Originally Posted by STF

I think I might have skirted around this subject before.

I am very likely going to get a 1k chosera but from everything i've read it will almost certainly craze because I am honing my own razors and won't use it often (enough).

Do I care if my Chosera crazes, will it matter, will it affect my razors, can I just lap the crazing off?

Is a Chosera 1k really that much better than the other stones?

My 8k Snowwhite crazed, my 5k chosera did as well but the 1k and 3k are fine. Luck? Don't know. The green brick is a nice bevel setter.
Right now I am using the shapton glass series.

Over the years the Chosera has been discussed and recommended probably more than just about any other stone. Sure, there are better alternatives but for most of us you can't go wrong and if Glen says so you can take that to the bank.

Originally Posted by STF

OK, just googled it, duckduck go actually.

It seems that ancient ocean jasper is pretty much marketing hype although jasper does seem to be highly thought of by some.

I believe @Bouschie uses jasper so perhaps he can weigh in with his opinion. I've bought a few razors from him and his edges are excellent.

There is Jasper in Colorado where Gabe says he gets his, and some of it might well be good for a Hone, I have one of his, if you were in the US it would make sense to let you test it

The Zulu is a nice hone, I lucked into one
Most of you missed out on the 9-Ball slate that another CO guy released two years ago
I would touch base with Shaun aka RezDog too, he found a rather nice source of slate I tested with good results he might have more
There is simply a plethora of "New" stones that are being found recently,, Seems like everyday on FB there is a new Custom Razor maker and a New Stone somebody polished and is claiming huge grit numbers ***SMH***


Here is something I believe that can't really be proved... I HIGHLY doubt ANY natural stone is much higher than 10k naked and wet.. They can be Burnished, Polished, Slurried, and generally worked to perform better than they present with actual grit sizes.. To me this means when the seller starts claiming high grit numbers it is a red flag, keep in mind that the Density of grit and the makeup of the Binder play a large part in performance.. That circles us back to why I think the Chosera / Pro
is still the best 1k on the market at this point in time..

It has all three
Uniform Fast cutting grit
High Density that helps keep the striations very shallow
Good Binder that makes it usage easy and repeatable

ps: This is over a decade old but you might find some good info hidden in this old thread

https://sharprazorpalace.com/hones/6...l-setting.html


Stepping off the box

Originally Posted by alex1921

My 8k Snowwhite crazed, my 5k chosera did as well but the 1k and 3k are fine. Luck? Don't know. The green brick is a nice bevel setter.
Right now I am using the shapton glass series.

The fine Choseras (including the Snow White) seemed to craze a lot more easily than the coarser ones. 5k seems to be the dividing line on these stones. I cannot recall anyone with a crazy 1k Chosera, including mine.

Hey Glen, I got a nice piece of that 9-ball slate, and it is good. For the folks that missed out, the 1Stone Black Shadow slate, the fine one, sold by Griffith Shaving Goods in the US is darned close if not the same in it’s honing characteristics. Get the big one, it qualifies for free shipping, so you turn shipping costs into stone.

I think it's a good idea to follow Shapton's guidelines for all ceramic stones.

Don't leave them in direct sunlight or high temps.
Don't soak them too long.
Don't leave them near fans or air con.
Don't use soaps detergent or hot water on them.

Only stone that crazed on me was a 12k kuromaku I'd left on a sunny bench. Drying too fast is a killer.
Since then I just wipe them down with a sponge & put them back in their plastic boxes damp. The Choseras the same but just leave them out of their cardboard boxes for obvious reasons.

Originally Posted by Steve56

The fine Choseras (including the Snow White) seemed to craze a lot more easily than the coarser ones. 5k seems to be the dividing line on these stones. I cannot recall anyone with a crazy 1k Chosera, including mine.

Hey Glen, I got a nice piece of that 9-ball slate, and it is good. For the folks that missed out, the 1Stone Black Shadow slate, the fine one, sold by Griffith Shaving Goods in the US is darned close if not the same in it’s honing characteristics. Get the big one, it qualifies for free shipping, so you turn shipping costs into stone.

I am curious how the Black shadow compares to the green one. Nic sent me his green shadow as a gift when I helped him out with some stuff.

I have the 1K 3K and 5K Chosera stones for years, the only one of them that has crazing is the 5K, it doesn't affect the stone or make any difference to the edge, my Naniwa Snow white 8K also has crazing, that stone still works the same with no ill effect.

Originally Posted by alex1921

I am curious how the Black shadow compares to the green one. Nic sent me his green shadow as a gift when I helped him out with some stuff.

According to the description on 1Stone, the Green Shadow is softer than the Black Shadow, finer than the Black, and slurries abundantly. He rates it between the Black and Black Shadow, about 10-12k. It’s intended primarily for beginners looking for an easy to use stone to finish knives, tools, and razors. It can mirror polish, with the highest polish from using it with glycerin.

Let is know what you think Alex. Do you have a Black Shadow?