Thread: Chosera 1K Query

Originally Posted by Birnando

Here's a little picture of my Chosera 10K.
It used to be soaked, these days, not so much...
All my Chosera's have shown this tendency, but it is easiest to see on the 10K.

My advice: Splash some water on it, let it sit for a minute or two and start honing.

Birn , just wondering if my theory holds water, so to speak.
Do you store or use the hones in very warm or dry conditions eg air con or some kind of heated room ?

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Birn , just wondering if my theory holds water, so to speak.
Do you store or use the hones in very warm or dry conditions eg air con or some kind of heated room ?

I do think you are right about the dryng phase being perhaps the bigger culprit here, given the right(wrong) conditions.

As I live in Norway, we heat our house for about 7-8 months a year, and that tends to dry out the indoor air.
Both me and Mrs. sighed when I read her the A/C part
No need for that up here!!

As a result of this, I dry my stones wrapped in a towel.
This seems to have stopped, more or less, the continued cracking of my Choseras.

I have had them for 2,5 years now, and they are still performing perfectly, regardless of the hairline-cracks though.

It seems that most persons just splash and go rather than soaking !
I have been trawling around some sites and found this info about the Choseras courtesy of the Edenwebshop UK :---
During manufacture, Chosera sharpening stones are bound with magnesium. This superior production method guarantees superb results. However, these magnesium-bound stones are more prone to developing hairline cracks. To prevent this from occurring, it is important NOT to use too much water when wetting Chosera sharpening stones. So Chosera stones should NEVER be left to soak in water for a prolonged period of time! It is also important to dry these stones thoroughly after use and store them in a dry, dark place.
This seems to answer my original question, many thanks to everyone for their advice !

Originally Posted by Birnando

As a result of this, I dry my stones wrapped in a towel.
This seems to have stopped, more or less, the continued cracking of my Choseras.

That very well might be what I have been doing "right" all along then...

When I am done honing I simply lay them face down on the towel I keep on the table, I don't dry them even, just done honing, rinse them, and leave them be..
I would guess that they only actually DRY out when I leave the house for a few days..

I do this same thing with all my hones and stones

Originally Posted by Birnando

As I live in Norway, we heat our house for about 7-8 months a year, and that tends to dry out the indoor air.
Both me and Mrs. sighed when I read her the A/C part
No need for that up here!!

As a result of this, I dry my stones wrapped in a towel.
This seems to have stopped, more or less, the continued cracking of my Choseras.

Don't you guys have reverse cycle air con ? We run our air con in winter to warm the house & burn the dollars.

I think what both you & Glen do is the trick for safe slow drying. I just put my Pros back in their plastic boxes while damp.
Also with the amount of honing that Glen would do I doubt the stones ever dry .