Thread: 12K Chinese Natural Stone

Does this stone require a slurry? If it requires a slurry, then what can I use locally to produce that slurry? Thank you, guys.

I wouldn't say that it requires a slurry, no. It's probably faster with one, but you can get great results using water by doing 50 strokes (down and back), checking the edge, and repeating as needed. It's slow, but sure.

As far as raising a slurry, somebody around here was selling slurry stones for them.* Lacking that, you'd need something pretty hard, for sure. A diamond-based hone/file would work, but I'm not sure what else. Maybe a piece of frosted glass?


* slurry stones here, $10 ea.

No, The Chinese 12k does not require a slurry. No hone does actually. A slurry is used to lessen the amount of work you do, or in some cases, like a Coticule to make the stone a bit more aggresive, gives it more cutting power. The Chinese 12k is a slow cutter. Your arm will go numb honing a razor...LOL....Actually, the norm is about 100 lapps give or take. When you use a slurry it cuts you time in half, you can do 50 lapps.
In lieu of a slurry stone, wet/dry sandpaper can be used. The slurry stone is much easier.

When you use a slurry with this stone, it leaves a hazy finish with noticeable scratch pattern, an 8k grit at best. I would not recommend it unless it's your only stone and you need the extra speed.

If you really want a slurry stone, you could cut off the end of yours. I know there's been some threads about it.

If your stone is lapped ultra smooth a slurry will help lessen stiction problems on wedges with wide bevels.

Ah yes, The People's Hone of Indeterminate Grit! I never used a slurry on mine. A slurry, even just a little, will round the edge a bit. This can give the edge a bit of a softer feel, but I prefer not to finish with a slurry. If you are going to use a slurry on this hone, I would suggest keeping it minimal and do some laps with just plain water after.

If you decide you want a slurry, wet/dry paper will work well, as will another C12K.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Ah yes, The People's Hone of Indeterminate Grit! I never used a slurry on mine. A slurry, even just a little, will round the edge a bit. This can give the edge a bit of a softer feel, but I prefer not to finish with a slurry. If you are going to use a slurry on this hone, I would suggest keeping it minimal and do some laps with just plain water after.

If you decide you want a slurry, wet/dry paper will work well, as will another C12K.

+1.

I don't use slurry for the reasons Holli mentions above. By the time I get tot he Chinese hone my edge is already shave ready and all I am doing is polishing the edge. If you need to do more than polish and minimal refinement of the edge you should use a different hone.

That answers that--I will not use a slurry. Thanks for all the answers. Wow! There is a lot to know about honing, but I am collecting the steps one-by-one. Thanks again.