Thread: Chosera Users - Feedback Please

Originally Posted by Lynn

I have the full set Dylan.

You can use them the next time you're over.

What's your Friday looking like? Haha, I wish it was that easy. I'd love to come out and play; maybe in the spring.

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I'm thinking I may pick up the 3k, but will definitely want to test the 5k out since I already have that SS. And I know I like the... whatever the dark blue is - maybe 600? Just not sure I need something that low.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

So I have the Chosera 1k, and I love it. I also have the SS 5k and 8k. I'm debating buying the Chosera 3k next, and then possibly replacing my 5k SS with the 5k Chosera.

I've done some searching, but, aside from Seth's recent post (which I really appreciate), I'm not finding too much feedback about the Choseras. Does anyone have them? What are they like to hone on (cut speed, gentleness on the spine, do they load up fast, what's the feedback like, how is the finish given the grit level, etc)? How would you compare them to other synthetics?

Like I said, I'm mostly curious about the 3k and 5k, but please share your thoughts on any of them, as others may be interested.

Thanks, and all hail the shrimp! It gives the taste of natural stone!

I am glad Lynn offered you a test drive....
Bring your existing hones and a half dozen
razors to compare and contrast.

I have a 10K Chosera that I found for half price.

I like it a LOT.

I think my 12K superstone and the 10K Chosera are on a
par with each other. If the prices were equal I would tend
toward the Chosera. I like BOTH a LOT so the frugal
side of me would buy the Superstone.

When I first got my Chosera I tried an experiment. I had a
razor with a small chip on it. I used an extra coarse
DMT to get the chip out, then I used a very well worn
coarse DMT to set a bevel and then straight to
the 10K Chosera with a slurry. Rinsed the slurry
to final finish hone the razor. The razor shaved very well
and the BIG jump from DMT to 10K was so easy, so yes they are
fast cutters.

I would not replace a Superstone with an equivalent
grit Chosera unless... well unless you want to...

One site in Germany was sawing them in half and backing the
two halves with granite... Coticle style... Hmmm...

The feel of the Chosera is massive.. it is a hunk of hone.
Where is Elvis when you need him "a hunk a hunk a burning hone"

In my case I have chosen to invest the most in the finer hones.
My 1K is a Norton as is my 4K/8K combo. I use the coarse
stones much less than the finer hones now that I have
a good rotation of shavers. My box of projects does just
fine on my DMT-XC-DMT-C-N1k-N4k/8k and I finish on what catches
my fancy Na12KSS or Chosera 10K...

One site in Germany was sawing them in half and backing the
two halves with granite... Coticle style... Hmmm...

I got my C10k cut from a stonecutter next door for a couple of bucks.
It´s reeeeally easy work for them. Just make sure you ask if they use any oil or special liquid
-which you do not want on your stone- for cooling their saw.
You will eventually loos a couple of mm because of the thicknes of the blade,
but you still get two very nice perfectly fine stones.
Btw. I compared both sides (the inside and outside) and found no difference

Originally Posted by Lesslemming

....snip....
Btw. I compared both sides (the inside and outside) and found no difference

I was wondering about this -- it is good to know that
the hone is the same from top to bottom. I think it
will last me a lifetime and will be worth the effort it takes
to make a good sturdy wood box to keep it in.

On boxes for hones I have found that if I make a box
and pin it with bamboo skewer dowels I can saw it open
and not risk a saw on nails/tacks and bamboo is strong
as heck. Nothing fancy... just 1/4" pine and hand tool
construction...

Didn't JoeD have some of those? I'm pretty sure I used his 1k, 2k, and may be 3k, but don't remember anything else. I think it may have something to do with that cognac in my glass at the time, since my memory seems to get fuzzier with the honing progression.

I did use Joe's 1k and the... dark blue one under 1k; I think it was 600 maybe? I hadn't tried the 2k, though, and I don't remember if he has a 3k.

I only have the 600 (blue) and the 800 (orange), so I cannot comment on the higher grits. The two that I have cut very well but I was surprised when I got them that they are quite porous, like the Norton 1k. That means you have to quite frequently top them off with water in order to keep them wet. Despite this, I find them to be quite handy for fast cutting.