Thread: Chosera 1K Query

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...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

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. LOL

The Choseras are soakers, but they also work well as a splash and go stones.

Originally Posted by mainaman

The Choseras are soakers, but they also work well as a splash and go stones.

exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Originally Posted by Mikael

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

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.
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.