Thread: A little info please...

Dear SRP Ladies and Gentlefolk,what have been your experiences with the Chinese 12k,8k waterstones?Have they truly been good finishing stones?Tell me how you have worked these into your honing technique.And last but not least,where have you gotten them?Thanks in advance!

You might try searching Chinese 12K, CH12, PHOIG and more.

There is a ton of info about them, almost all of it positive.

The 8K is less widely used...

A good source is a seller called Open_Razor, in Poland. He has good prices, good service, and he's a straight shaver so he has a good idea what's what.

These days there isn't that much and I don't have one but before the current hone craze hit the forum the Chinese 12K was considered a good value as a finisher. it is very slow but does a good job. Mind you there are better out there but it works.

Please realize that the Chinese hone is a rock. That means they are not all the same and some are good and some are not. You buy your ticket and you take your chance.

The Chinese "12k" was the BBW of it's time.

Originally Posted by HNSB

The Chinese "12k" was the BBW of it's time.

It was used as a backing material for a better quality hone stone from a neighboring vein?

The PHIG (ch12k) is a great stone. I have gotten very nice, smooth edges that are comparable to professionally honed blades I have used. Not always quite there, but it is still a great finisher.

If your in the U.S. You can get them here: Natural Polishing Water Stone - Woodcraft.com

As previously stated, they are slow, but a good finisher none the less. A slurry will help.
Since they are natural, some are better than others, but not by much, they'll all get you there, it's just a question of how long...They do impart a nice smooth edge IME.

Originally Posted by HNSB

The Chinese "12k" was the BBW of it's time.

??????????????????????

Personally, I don't like them. Others, people whose honing I respect, do like them and use them in the finishing process. I think they are rated incorrectly as too fine a polisher and I don't like the quality of the stone as the ones I've used have felt dirty.