Thread: Guangxi Stone AKA Cnat/c12k

I know these stones have seen their share of threads/topics but I had to share this with everyone. I have read a lot of information here about these hones and keep in mind I don't have any experience except refreshing an edge and even that is VERY limited but ...... Here's the story anyways. Hopefully someone can find something useful in it and if nothing else it is much deserved praise for these guangxi stones.

So in an attempt to keep my edge I tried to make my own denim strop but when I stropped on it something went terribly wrong and I probably rounded my edge some as the razor shaved horribly and would not pass any HHT although it did shave arm hair at the base. So I sat down with the Guangxi stone and some water and gave the razor some slow and deliberate X-strokes with just water and NO pressure At the advice of some members here I did 15 at a time and then tested the blade. First 15- nothing. Second 15- nothing (started getting nervous that It was past refreshening). Third set of 15 and it started passing a HHT-0 and HHT-1 and caught arm hair a bit above the skin but was missing more than it was catching. Fourth set of 15 and it was passing HHT-3 all along the blade! Total of 60 no pressure X-strokes with only water. I then went to a pasted balsa strop.3/.1 and did 5 on green and 10 on red and then stropped 50 on leather (I threw out the homemade denim one). I'll be darned if it wasn't passing at a HHT-4 and taking the tips off arm hair!! I had a shave with it and man was that blade sharp and smooth. First BBS (all over/all directions) I've had since I transitioned from a shavette to a straight about two weeks ago.

I cant say enough about these stones. From what I have read here and my experience they are great stones. I don't have one with the darker 'tiger' stripes though but mine is pretty hard and very smooth and has light grey/white lines that run the length of it and actually through the stone. I am not convinced there are certain things you can look for to ensure you get a great stone except maybe the density of it? I am not sure about that either. All I know is this one put a wicked edge on a razor for a beginner. I can't imagine what it would do for someone that is skilled at these no pressure X-strokes. It took me about 3 minutes to do one set of 15 so only about 13 minutes total on this stone.

Once I get consistent with refreshing my edge I want to try things with a slurry as I also have a slurry stone but first things first. For now, clear water and no pressure seem to be working very well. Eventually I am going to shoot for a HHT-5 as I have never experienced this even with my feather DE blades. I'll try to post a picture of my stone in the next post. Thanks to everyone and hopefully I can get in on the next C-Nat-athon!