Thread: Where are folks getting the good Guangxi (CNAT) hones?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Also I think one of the ones I didn't like back then might have been ok if I had considered switching it to an Oil style stone instead of a water stone,,

I did that with one of mine and, with oil, it did improve the edge off of the 8k where with water it didn't.

I got a good one from woodcraft as well, but many had good luck with the polish ebay seller named open_razor.

Mine's from open_razor, and I consider it good quality. Take that post with a big old chunk of salt though. Had some game changing occurences happen recently which makes my previous experiences and opinions irrelevant and sometimes flat wrong.

I've had three, two from Woodcraft and one from the Polish Ebay seller. The best of the three is the Ebay stone. YMMV

Well I have another on the way from Woodcraft (they are letting me exchange the one I have). Will let you all know if this one turns out OK.

This thread caused me to go to ebay and buy one from poland. I think the one I have (not the woodcraft one that I sold on the S&S) still that is soft and basically unusable for finishing was from a US seller.

Mine from the Polish seller is extremely hard, I can barely make a slurry with it

Originally Posted by DaveW

This thread caused me to go to ebay and buy one from poland. I think the one I have (not the woodcraft one that I sold on the S&S) still that is soft and basically unusable for finishing was from a US seller.

That's what I like to hear! I hone a razor that I'm using (and not playing with) a maximum of one time per 30 shaves, and more likely once per 50. If it takes a long time to get the edge I want, I'm not worried about it.

I have some soft slurry stones that i can use if the surface of the stone behaves like a hard plate.

Originally Posted by DaveW

I sold one to jaswarb, I thought it was a good one. Woodcraft sent it to me because I asked a question on an open forum about them when they first came out.

It was far better than the other one I bought off of ebay.

It produces an edge nearly as good as the B/G Escher JimmyHAD sent me. Usually the CHIG first then the Escher makes for silky smooth shaving. It is hard as glass, heavy as lead, and just doesn't absorb water.

Usually 25 passes on the CHIG from the Norton 8K so it cuts fast.

I got mine off our Classifieds for $15, and it easily gave awesome edges on the first go with 4 different razors. Guess I lucked out!