Thread: Chinese 12k question (s)

Originally Posted by zib

Glen, I've always read it takes 100 laps with water and 50 with the slurry. I do 50 with the slurry. It's not the 50 laps that prevents me from using the 12k, it's the soaking. Your supposed to soak the thing for 30 mins. When I decide to hone, I really don't like waiting 30 mins. It's for this reason, I'm thinking of going to a Shapton 16k. I will say this, When I've used the 12k with a slurry, the results were favorable. I found the blade to sharp, yet smooth. When I used Diamond pastes, it's sharp, but maybe too keen. That's where the irritation comes in.. I keep notes on the razors I hone. Everyone I've taken to the C12k are favorable. Worth the effort IMHO.....Rich

I've compared honing with and without pre-soaking. I haven't found it to make any difference. Unlike waterstones, which need to be soaked in order to keep the hone surface wet, the Chinese hone draws the water in so very slowly that it just really makes no difference. Pre-soaked or not, the hone surface remains wet long enough to get in your 100 strokes.