Originally Posted by
ZethLent
Are you sure they are 'cracks'?
My Chosera #5000 I have had the longest and has a patterning all over the surface. I have always thought this to be water stains and never given it a second thought. Did your finger nail get caught when feeling for it? I have soaked my hones in the past but never for more than 40 minutes, as it states (in Japanese) on the side of the hone, but recently have just misted the tops until nothing more sinks in. This was because my whole set (with stands) won't fit in the honing tub I used to use.
The misting has worked fine for the last month or so. So I don't think I will be soaking them any more. Just the misting.
FYI: I have the #1000, #2000, #3000, and #5000 Chosera. My #10000 is a Gokumyo from Suehiro.