Thread: slurry

No. You don't have to use slurry. There was a gentleman on here that used to say: "Use a lower grit". It just takes longer, that's all. 8k is still 8k, 4k is still 4k, etc... Natural stones do not need slurry either, For example, The Charnley Forest hone. (Yes, I know it's used with oil) That's just one. Even Coticules and BBW's can be used without slurry, as a finisher. Some Cotis are so soft, they generate their own slurry. Lot's of guys buy them thinking, "I only need one hone" and quickly find out, that's not really true. It really depends on what your trying to do. Slurry will increase the speed at which a stone removes metal, nothing more. It cannot change the grit of a stone.

What we are calling grit has nothing to do with their actual grit. And, I disagree with the fact that it can't lower the "grit". You can use the slurry of a coticule for bevel setting. The slurry of a C12k speeds up things a lot but the scratch pattern it leaves and the sharpness with or without slurry have big difference. Without slurry, when you hone, the blade touches only the higher part of the abrasive particles it comes in contact with, limited penetration in the steel, and abrasion. With slurry, whole particles are moving between the steel and stone surface. for such a small surface of each whole particle, high pressure is applied, and it goes deeper into the blade. The kind of scratch a lower grit stone would offer. There are some stones that we don't use them with slurry, and a few like the eschers that with or without slurry there is no big difference. But generally, a stone with slurry cuts deeper than without.

you got some great advice here lol...take it in enjoy!

Originally Posted by sleekandsmooth

you got some great advice here lol...take it in enjoy!

Yes I did. Thank you very much you guys. This is why I love this site, I can ask a question and get a pool of knowledge that would take quite a while to get through experience. Thanks again.

Slurry is a variable, and there is no right answer,,, it is the ultimate YMMV part of this hobby

It depends on the Stone/Hone and and how you made the slurry, most every statement made so far is true, and then again, not true depending on the variables involved...

You need to add slurry when you feel comfortable using it, and confident in your own abilities to realize what is going on with it...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You need to add slurry when you feel comfortable using it, and confident in your own abilities to realize what is going on with it...

So, to drastically simplify your statement could you be saying that a should get used to a stone and it's individual quirks before utilizing slurry?