Thread: Chosera 1k: First try

I was always told to not soak the Chosera's for an extended period of time. I use mine every day and just splash water on it until it quits drinking which is usually around 15 minutes. I do the same with the Naniwa Super Stones. This has worked great so far.

Have fun.

Wow, Interestiing...It is a thirsty hone. I got mine at Chef's knives too. I've been soaking it, sometimes for as long as 30mins, like the Nortons. I'll cut it back to 15mins.

I splash and go and it works just fine for me

Note from manufacturer of Chosera:


IMPORTANT NOTE on storage and lubrication: Chosera sharpening stones are bound with magnesium and so have more cutting particles per unit of surface than resin-bound stones. But magnesium-bound stones are much more sensitive to prolonged exposure to water as other types of stones. So Chosera stones should NOT be left to soak in water for prolonged periods and must be stored dry. If this advice is not followed the stones can develop hairline cracks or the binding material can be leached out of the stone. It is more than enough to pour a little water on the surface or briefly dip the stones in water, they do not need to be soaked. If you are not sure that you can keep this always in mind, perhaps because you have a number of different kinds of sharpening stones, it may be better to opt for the more tolerant Super Stones.

Originally Posted by Lynn

I was always told to not soak the Chosera's for an extended period of time. I use mine every day and just splash water on it until it quits drinking which is usually around 15 minutes. I do the same with the Naniwa Super Stones. This has worked great so far.

Have fun.

May I inquire what the difference is between splashing water on the stone for 15 minutes until it stops "drinking water" and using running water for 3 to 5 minutes until it is saturated? Is there a difference? Does one way or the other harm the stone or make it better at honing? I'm really interested in knowing.

Randy

Originally Posted by Badgister

I really don't like the response when honing on the 4k side of my norton. I have been meaning to try out the Naniwa stones. How do they compare? Does it need to be lapped tremendously like the norton before it starts to feel smooth? Even after lapping my 4k norton numerous times, it still feels gritty.

Originally Posted by Badgister

I guess I will have to really get that 1/8 of an inch of the stone. What grit sandpaper do you recommend? Or is a lapping plate better?

You did not say how you were lapping your stone. For me, a complete newb here, I followed gssixguns' video using a diamond stone I use for knives. I used the "fine" grit side, marked up the Norton with a carpenter's pencil, submerged the Norton with about 1/16" of water above it and honed until the pencil marks were all gone. I did this 5 times for both the 4k and 8k sides. If it took me 20 minutes total for both sides, that would be a gross exaggeration. YMMV! The result is a stone as soft and smooth as baby's bottom. So, to answer one of your questions, I would highly recommended a diamond lapping plate. I will tell you what I used if you PM me. It was a LOT less expensive that what is normally mentioned on this site and has worked well for me from removing a "frown" from a blade to setting a bevel to lapping the Norton stones.

Randy

Originally Posted by WhiteLion

May I inquire what the difference is between splashing water on the stone for 15 minutes until it stops "drinking water" and using running water for 3 to 5 minutes until it is saturated? Is there a difference? Does one way or the other harm the stone or make it better at honing? I'm really interested in knowing.

Randy

Well it is a matter of which method you find most convenient for you. I began doing the 15 minute soak because I guess I'm inclined to follow instructions. Zeth Lent found that spray misting worked well for him. Lynn splashes water on it and lets it sit and if it needs more splashes more. Apparently all of these methods work. Just name your poison and enjoy.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Well it is a matter of which method you find most convenient for you. I began doing the 15 minute soak because I guess I'm inclined to follow instructions. Zeth Lent found that spray misting worked well for him. Lynn splashes water on it and lets it sit and if it needs more splashes more. Apparently all of these methods work. Just name your poison and enjoy.

Ah so... Like almost everything else to do with SR shaving as I view post after post, it is a matter of preference...Yes? There seems to be no science, rhyme or reason to many things other than the particular user has found that it works for him.

SR shaving has been around for several centuries if not longer. You would think by now there would be some standards by which all all shavers stand by. Yet, it still seems to a newb like me that it is akin the wild wild west where anything goes and there is always one camp or another advocating this or that.

It seems to me that if the splashers, spitzers, soakers, and in between got together, they could come up with a common agreement of the BEST way to proceed. But instead, we newbs are left scratching our heads and sent adrift to our own devices to experiment with the varying opinions.

I love SRP but I have to tell you, as many answers as it gives me, it raises more questions each time I am confronted with an issue. Is it possible that some of the proponents of divergent techniques can get together and come up with a consensus so us newbs are not so whipsawed all the time? Just a thought.

Randy

SR shaving has been around for several centuries if not longer. You would think by now there would be some standards by which all all shavers stand by. Yet, it still seems to a newb like me that it is akin the wild wild west where anything goes and there is always one camp or another advocating this or that.

Maybe it is like Zen ....... Alan Watts said, "Those who know don't say, and those who say don't know."

Just got this off the Chef's Knives To Go website : Naniwa claims these are splash-and-go stones, but users say that soaking for 15 minutes really brings out the best qualities of the sharpening matrix

So even Naniwa doesn't know and they are making the darn thing.

And you find this different somewhere else?? And you find this different in other sports??

I hone razors almost 6 hours a day and almost 7 days a week and have for years written about methods that are extremely reliable and consistent. As soon as I finish a post with what I think is the best information for me, there are people posting their thoughts and experiences, real or not, one razor or more about what works for them or what they like or what they think you should do. We have people who post here and on other forums with definite agendas and minimal experience. I learned from a guy who knew how to hone razors and he taught me the pyramid method at a time when there was almost no information available on how to sharpen a straight razor. We have had people trying to debunk this method for years with their conclusion being that it works but maybe their method is faster or better or that they are the go to experience. Go figure. I have seen people on other forums ridiculing the circle process and they have zero credibility, but their word is gospel in their world or you are gone. This circle process when done correctly is virtually flawless using synthetic stones and works very well with naturals too.

If you come up with a way to fix what is bothering you, please let us know. Please keep in mind though that there is a reason for so many different styles of razors and fragrances of soap and after shaves and colognes and there is a reason all of us wear different clothes. Without people doing things differently or using something differently, I am afraid that the learning process will stop and believe it or not we have learned a ton since the first wetshaving forum started 12 years ago simply because we have a platform that didn't exist a hundred years ago to share what we know and what is available globally.

I think you just have to use your best judgement based on all the conflicting information or come over to the shop and I will personally show you how to hone and you can experiment with some of the methods and stones that are talked about here. At least that will make it a little easier for you. Or feel free to PM me and I will send you my phone number and I'll be happy to discuss your honing questions with you.

Have fun

Originally Posted by WhiteLion

Ah so... Like almost everything else to do with SR shaving as I view post after post, it is a matter of preference...Yes? There seems to be no science, rhyme or reason to many things other than the particular user has found that it works for him.

SR shaving has been around for several centuries if not longer. You would think by now there would be some standards by which all all shavers stand by. Yet, it still seems to a newb like me that it is akin the wild wild west where anything goes and there is always one camp or another advocating this or that.

It seems to me that if the splashers, spitzers, soakers, and in between got together, they could come up with a common agreement of the BEST way to proceed. But instead, we newbs are left scratching our heads and sent adrift to our own devices to experiment with the varying opinions.

I love SRP but I have to tell you, as many answers as it gives me, it raises more questions each time I am confronted with an issue. Is it possible that some of the proponents of divergent techniques can get together and come up with a consensus so us newbs are not so whipsawed all the time? Just a thought.

Randy