In favor of PHIG
I know it started as a joke when Utopian went on a rant, and Holli4prirating came up with it -BUT- PHIG also has become after quite a few people have tested them for straight razor use, a very good descriptor for these stones...
We can't get more exact because we don't have the info to do so, we know that there are several different types out there, some that are flat terrible finishers, some that are good, and some that are flat unbelievably smooth finishers... The slurry is different on many of them, the clear water scratch pattern is different, and the grit levels are different...
So with all those differences that we have found, I kinda have grown quite attached to the PHIG moniker as it lets new guys know right off the get go that these like other Natural stones are different ie:
People's
Hone of
Indetermite
Grit tells them that just because they are not getting good results while honing, it might not be just them, it actually could be the stone :) It also explains why some of us love them, and some hate them..
So yep I think I for one am sticking with the PHIG name at least until a grading process comes into effect.. Who knows someone might take these and start giving them fancy vein names and the price will skyrocket :p
The $475 "Silken Dragon Vein" Chinese slate hone could be the next big deal :rofl2:
ps: Yes that was sort of a joke :)
pps: I also didn't just pull this outta my hat here is another couple of threads about these hones
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...nese-hone.html