Thread: Do you soak Ch12K?

So I have been messing around with my PHIG's and just for kicks decided to soak one and the verdict is... IT DOESN'T ABSORB ANY WATER!!! HAHA! anyway I did notice a better feel to the hone. It could just be me with all the anxiety of having some experimentation to do but the results were the same as before, the shave wasn't very comfortable some pulling in fact, tried different strops and my hardest one seemed to improve the edge but not to the level at which I would actually enjoy shaving and this is the weirdest thing CROX didn't improve the edge either... I know I too was speechless. I will try taking pics once I have a camera of my two PHIGS so you guys can see if it matches your PHIGS. In the end I think that the PHIG is best left to people sharpening chisels and knives but not something that goes on your face.

Put a equal size drops of water on the Chinese hone and on a dinner plate or something else that is non-porous. I think you will find that the one on the Chinese hone disappears first. The two stones I have don't absorb much water, but they do absorb some.

That's true. They don't absorb much water at all. I've cut them into pieces after soaking. Not much water absorbs into the Chinese 12k. Next time I cut one, I'll post some pics....

My test stone was soaked for 30 mins in a 1 gallon pitcher, totally submerged.

Since we're on the subject, I've used my Chi-Com stone with and without slurry and have noticed little difference. Has anyone else noticed this?

OP...
Yes, I soak mine first.

Off topic...
When these first came out one of our guys found a chart showing the Chinese grit measurement system. These are actually ~ 10K by Japanese standards. But....the effectiveness really depends on the individual stone and razor.

Hope this helps,

I like the C12k. It's slow, but a great finisher...Probably the most under used stone in your collection....It does work better with a slurry....

Originally Posted by Traskrom

My C12 doesn't absorb any water at all. I got a feeling that water drops are "jumping" on the surface like pool balls, that's looks really funny.

Well, could it not be a water stone then?

I thought water stone just meant the stone was to be used with water as a lubricant, as opposed to a stone that absorbs water.

I have always soaked it. Often with my norton 4/8k.

But I do not think it needs a lot of soaking. As long as
there is enough water to push a water wave in front
of the razor it is wet enough.