Thread: Made in China but not 12k so let's stop calling it 12k

Originally Posted by 0livia

This (12000 Grit) was probably coming from an eBay auction where these hones came up first.
I used to write "12k" but Guangxi would be better.

Let's compromise and call it the GuangXII.

LOL, good one!

Maybe.... someone has labelled it as a 8000 grit stone, assuming JIS
and someone else thought it was FEPA or Grit and translated it to JIS once again.
My theory for long.

I was under the impression that the Chinese 12k stones were much more consistent in grit variance from stone to stone. Closer to each other than other naturals might be. I was also under the impression that the approximate grit was around 12k. I suppose if I heard someone come in and say they've tried a few, some of which were the best finishing hones they've laid their hands on and others that were coarser than their BBWs, then I would be inclined to jump on board with the fact that maybe the 12k rating is a misnomer, but I've not really read anything like that yet?

I won't argue that it's exactly 12k and that's why we call it that, but I'll argue that it's close enough (at least mine is), to the point that I don't see a burning need to change the name that we know and love. Newbies can do worse than assuming their "Chinese hone" has a 12k grit rating

Well that big number "12000" has lead to a great belief!
Thats what I find so ...ummm.... a bit irrational.

Originally Posted by Utopian

.

My main objection is that it leads to confusion.

It still is confusing. If it ain't 12k what k is it? I just bought a mystery k stone recently.

According to the "Teachings of Confusion" If a man were to use this stone he would attain many times the patience he had before, some say 12000 times more. (just kidding, it is a nice stone)
Mike

Originally Posted by Kingfish

According to the "Teachings of Confusion" If a man were to use this stone he would attain many times the patience he had before, some say 12000 times more. (just kidding, it is a nice stone)
Mike

Phew! Looks like I got one just in time I can't wait to get more patience

Originally Posted by charlie762

It still is confusing. If it ain't 12k what k is it? I just bought a mystery k stone recently.

if you apply the correct grit definition it would be somewhere at 6000-8000 or less. of course most people would pay more money for more grit, so the marketing department says 12000 and stay on message. it only takes a couple of years and it becomes the accepted name.

I agree about the grit designation. I don’t see how any natural stone could have a grit designation. Mine does seem to leave a different striation pattern from one side to the other.

I have some old Arkansas black surgical and translucent natural stones and they all cut differently. One of my translucent in the hardest stone I have, Diamond plate cutting it very slowly. The Chinese resurfaced much more quickly and leaves larger stria pattern.

So I agree, if yours is a 12K or leave a pattern like a 12K they are not all 12K. They can’t be.

It would be interesting to hear more about the tradition of this 'Chinese stone' and to know for how long this stone was quarried and what it use was in China before it came on the western markets.
I think it's the best way to have an idea about what we're debating about.
Anyway the scratch marks it leaves on my str8 razors are definitely much more finer than those of my Coticules. It is without any doubt near the 10000 to 12000 grit.