Thread: Chinese 12k question (s)

Jerry, what the heck is a rotten stone???

Rottenstone can be found at woodworking stores. It is a powder made from decaying limestone. I have used it in the past on a paddle strop. It is very fine and breaks down with use. Maybe 1.0 micron? I put mine in a electric coffee bean grinder and powdered it first. I wanted to break up any large grains.

One of its traditional uses is to combine it with parrafin oil and use it as a final polish on wood, after varnish. Pumice is used first.

Randy gave you a very good description of rotten stone. I can add a thing or two. Rotten stone is extensively used by gunstock refinishers as a final polish for hand rubbed linseed oil finishes. It is also great for other hand rubbed oils such as birchwood oil which I prefer to linseed based finishes. I refinished gunstocks for 30 years and I was glad to find out that I can use it for razor honing because I believe I have about a lifetime supply of rotten stone and also pumice stone. Many old-fashioned hardware stores probably still sell it. JERRY

I too am no hone expert but I own quite a few this being one, I lapped mine with a Norton lapping stone drew pencil lines and repeated, entire process under 15 minutes if I remember correct. I have read where they will wear down a Norton Lapping stone although I don't know how true that is. I found it to be a good stone to learn on as it cuts so slow it is very hard to overhone I would do 10-15 laps then check edge and repeat as necessary. You can with enough patience and time in my opinion get a nice edge off it but with enough patience and practice you can get a nice edge off most hones. It is no longer one of the hones I go to too much anymore instead I prefer others but it was good when I was starting out honing due to it cutting so slow.

If you finish on water, whip up some lather and do 30-50 more laps. I get just enough refinement that takes it to the next level.

Hi Glen

I use the Chinese "12K" as a final finisher. I have used other finishing stones and prefer the feel the "Chinese 12k" gives to the razors. I hone more than 5 razors a week.


To answer your questions

"Is the only allure of this stone the price????"

I don't think so, I use it because when I tried it, it gave a "smoother" shave. I don't like that as evidence because it's a little airy fairy for me. The "Real" reason I use it is because when I shaved with it and I liked the shave I checked it out under a microscope. When I did this I found a very polished surface, better than I had seen before.

I like to make a slurry on this stone using a piece of the same stone, this was sent with it when I bought it. I dilute like I would on other waterstones. I tried using this stone with my glycerin honing oil, but it was better/faster with water. I use 50 laps, and it markedly improves the edge I get compared with a 10k Ohishi waterstone. I would just like to take a minute to say the Ohishi waterstone is RIDICULOUSLY good and I will get another when needed. I have found that more laps doesn't really improve the edge. These laps are starting with a good slurry and diluting as I go along every 10 laps to water.

I think I would like to say it's difficult to say that the stones really are 12k, I think they are probably finer. I would like some evidence to back this up but I don't have any right now. It works (in my opinion) better with a slurry.



This is my "Chinese 12K" does it look like other people's?

Originally Posted by straightrazorheaven

Hi Glen

I use the Chinese "12K" as a final finisher. I have used other finishing stones and prefer the feel the "Chinese 12k" gives to the razors. I hone more than 5 razors a week.


To answer your questions

Carl see post #69 from two years ago, the Original thread is over 3 years old but hey thanks for the info it might help somebody,, but honestly read the link from post 69 there is a ton of info there and even more out there now...

LOL

My bad ... honestly ... I didn't even notice the date on these posts!!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Carl see post #69 from two years ago, the Original thread is over 3 years old but hey thanks for the info it might help somebody,, but honestly read the link from post 69 there is a ton of info there and even more out there now...

The last two stones that I purchased was the one from China and the Zulu from South Africa. Have used the one from china on about 10 razors and the Zulu on ~5. Personally like the way the Zulu performs better.