Thread: Question regarding PHIGs

When I was testing these, it wasn't the hardness of the stone that determined the quality of the finish, it is the gritiness of the stone, some of these are quite scratchy on the edge, others as the guys have pointed out feel as good as a quality Thuringen..

Some don't take to using a slurry at all and are very scratchy and should be lapped out to at least 1000 grit and used with just water, these tend to be the very hard stones.

Some produce a milky slurry that feels like talc on the razor much like a good Thuringen and can be used much the same, and tend to be the softer stones..

There are many more variations between these two and I am sure there are others I haven't seen too..

As with any natural stone you have to figure out what you have and how to use it..

Originally Posted by RogueRazor

also, I hate the PHIG designation as it is derogatory. No one knows the actual grit for any natural stone, why the prejudice against this one?

We have been down this road before.
Maybe you should start a thread on your feelings toward prejudiced hones.

Originally Posted by RogueRazor

I hate the PHIG designation as it is derogatory. No one knows the actual grit for any natural stone, why the prejudice against this one?

Does it make me a racist for thinking that all slate hones look the same?

I use the advice from Vasilis and slurried with the sharp edge of the slurry stone; the slurry that was produced was very milky. I let the stone dry out with the slurry on it, and the dried-out slurry feels softer than talc. Sounds like I might have a good one, and it's even better since I only paid $13 for it.

OK, I know I'm asking for trouble, but what's derogatory about it? I'm assuming it must have something to do with history that I either missed out on because of the public school system, or because I've got the memory retention of a house pet...Either way, I'd like an answer please. I spent a few years "out in the world" before moving back to my 99.7 percent white community. I heard a lot of derogatory terms for people..One of which being "rocks". As in, "Don't bother man, that guy's a rock." (he's stupid). But I've never heard a derogatory term for a rock. Interesting that it would be "people" I think.

The memory of a "house pet" is not so bad, Joe; as long as it is the memory of a German Shepherd and not that of a Gerbil.

Originally Posted by regularjoe

OK, I know I'm asking for trouble, but what's derogatory about it? I'm assuming it must have something to do with history that I either missed out on because of the public school system, or because I've got the memory retention of a house pet...Either way, I'd like an answer please. I spent a few years "out in the world" before moving back to my 99.7 percent white community. I heard a lot of derogatory terms for people..One of which being "rocks". As in, "Don't bother man, that guy's a rock." (he's stupid). But I've never heard a derogatory term for a rock. Interesting that it would be "people" I think.

just that people don't call a japanese natural stone, which is also of indeterminate grit, a jhit. as far as I have read ALL natural stones are indeterminate grit. that's all.

PHIG came about as somewhat of a joke; prior to that the stone was most commonly referred to as a Chinese 12K (that is probably what it's still most commonly referred to as).
A former member here was making a big deal about it - since it's a natural stone there is no way to say that a natural stone is a 12k, and that they vary from stone to stone.
Dylan (holli4pirating) came up with the term People's Hone of Indeterminate Grit (PHIG) as a light-hearted response to that; the name just stuck.

Originally Posted by HNSB

PHIG came about as somewhat of a joke; prior to that the stone was most commonly referred to as a Chinese 12K (that is probably what it's still most commonly referred to as).
A former member here was making a big deal about it - since it's a natural stone there is no way to say that a natural stone is a 12k, and that they vary from stone to stone.
Dylan (holli4pirating) came up with the term People's Hone of Indeterminate Grit (PHIG) as a light-hearted response to that; the name just stuck.

thanks for the detail. I'm not really that upset about it,lol. I used to use it a lot; now that I have coticules and japanese natural stones it doesn't really come out of the drawer much. Mainly because I'm not sure where in the progression it should fit.
mine gives off a talc 'y' slurry with a dmt but is also glassy and creates a suction on water. seems it's both hard and soft stone )

Thanks guys for all the input here. I have one of these that is about 6" x 2" x 1 7/16" thick. I have played with it but not given it much serious attention. It takes a bit of work to raise a slurry with the slurry stone that came with it. I have been using a diamond lap that I have on hand that is 600- grit (It started life as a new 600 grit. but with many years of use it is a bit wore out). That diamond lap does a fairly good job of raising a milky slurry.

After reading this I think I am going to play with that a little more seriously and see just what I can get out of it.

Ray