Thread: Chinese 12k question (s)

I've got good mastering of sharpening and honing process on my wood-working tools, but I shave only once a week and am not trusting my strooping capability. For that reason I like the 12k.
Before buying the 12k my stone succession was:
400 restoring only
1000 restoring only
6000
8000 rozsutec with oil
Then 30-50 strops, but I don't feel good with stropping.
After I replaced the rozsutec with the 12k it takes me much less stropping to get shave ready and makes me feel more confident on the result.

I definitely love the Chinese stone, usually (and improperly) referred as 12k grit.
It is the stone I use at the end of the honing process and I like the ultra smooth edge it produces. Although it is a slow cutter, patience will reward you with a very smooth edge and very comfortable for shaving.
I also use it for touching up my blades. Great stone!

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...

Glen, do you just dislike stuff from China?

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.