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Just about to start my first honing after receiving a Chosera 1K hone which I intend to use for setting bevels.
As the package was all in Japanese with no instructions I had a trawl around the forum to see if it needed to be used with just a splash of water or required soaking - I couldn't find the answer !
Can someone please advise ?
Many thanks
I give mine 5 minutes dunk. Lap and start honing. Its a great stone, im sure you will love it.
You will find many "Correct" answers here
If you search the Chosera websites out there the most often recommended is 15 minutes of soaking..
I would start there first and decide after that which direction to go...
Uhmmm.....What he said. LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
The Choseras are soakers, but they also work well as a splash and go stones.
exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
I think it doesn't matter much with the 1K stone, but I wouldn't do (don't do it at all) it on higher grits, my 10K has started to show cracks in the surface (a friend has had that happened to two 10K stones). I think the maker didn't recommend soaking serveral yrs ago. Splash and go works fine for me (usually I use 1, 2, 5 and 10 K with the Choseras and then a 16K Shapton GS) ... Yeah, that's my stand, until something happens that makes me change it :D
My theory is that the cracks develop from drying too fast e.g. on a sunny bench or in air con. I always put my stones away slightly damp now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikael
My 12k Shap pro has cracks but was never soaked. Ceramic stones are just more sensitive to the environment compared to the old style waterstones.
I can see some lines in my shapton 16k. My theory is that they are quite sensitive to temp changes as I don't think I have soaked mine over the years. You can't feel them, but they are there. I have a feeling they developed due to warm water hitting it as I have been known to touch-up a razor mid shave if it's not quite right & just rinsing it under the same warm water that I am rinsing the blade under. I bring this up as a recommendation...if you do soak, do it with room temp water.
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.
Attachment 138485
I stopped soaking my chisera. The only ones i soak are nortons.
Gentlemen, I splash my Chosera 1K and proceed. I don't I have ever soaked it.
I guess the only way we could put this to rest is if someone has a relatively sensitive scale and weigh the stone after 30 minutes soak and after 24 hour dry time. This will tell how much water it could hold in that time and how much water it loses.
I splash mine two tree times or so until the stone quits drinking and the water starts to pool a little and then start using it.
Have fun.
Birn , just wondering if my theory holds water, so to speak. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Birnando
Do you store or use the hones in very warm or dry conditions eg air con or some kind of heated room ?
You could be right, but mine doesn't dry like that (we've AC but rarely use it, not hot enough lol, and I never let them sit in direct sunlight) but we do live in a kind of dryish climat during winter time (same for Bin, I guess´and it's around approx 40% RH then)...Quote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
I wasn't aware the higher grit Chosera's are prone to cracking. Good to know. I've been very happy with the Shapton GS stones. Splash and Go here for the Chosera 1k. I still prefer to use it as a bevel setter. FWIW, I lay a towel in a bathtub and allow my stones to dry in there overnight, or the dish drain if the Mrs. doesn't object.
Honestly I abuse my hones, I do everything in this thread you guys are saying to be careful of and worse.. My Chosera 1k is soaking right now, has been for 20 minutes and might be for a bit longer before I get to honing... The 5k and 10k will follow it in the water as soon as I take the 1k out and start honing..
They are simply tools, and they will get used up, my Green Machine that started at +25mm is down to 12mm right now higher grits last longer because there is less pressure and less time spent on them but they will be used as tools..
Just haven't seen many of the problems you guys are showing here YET
I do think you are right about the dryng phase being perhaps the bigger culprit here, given the right(wrong) conditions.Quote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
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 !
Quote:
Originally Posted by Birnando
:hmmm: 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by Birnando
Don't you guys have reverse cycle air con ? :p 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 . :roflmao
