Thread: Chinese Synthetics

Hello, I'm new to honing and I'm using lapping film.
I would like to know if the cheap Chinese Synthetics water stones that can be found on Aliexpress are usable.
I would take the 1K , 2K , 5/8k combo and eventually finish on films and then CrOx and IronX paste as I do now.

Eventually I could also buy the cheap diamond plates 1k, 2k,3k if they can be used for bevel setting.

Thanks!

These links show the products I'm talking about:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_BTBxmn

https://a.aliexpress.com/_BSUicJ

I have not used those stone, but the reviews are not promising.

You can buy a King, 1k for $20 us. And a 6k for $25 and a 1k/6k combo stone for $26. King has a long, well known reputation for quality stones. The cheaper kings are a bit smaller but will hone razors just fine.

The jump from a 1k to a 6k can easily be made, then to a good 8k finisher, film or a natural.

Inexpensive Chinese diamond plates are surprisingly very good and grit consistent if you buy the better ones. I have used them for years.

Diamond plates have a reputation for causing micro chipping with hard razors, but if you use lite pressure and remove enough metal with a synthetic stone, you should be ok.

Does Iron X that you use have a grit, what is it and what grit size?

I have used similar synthetics, taidea branded but cheap Chinese water stones. I wanted them to work so badly but never liked them for razors. The lower range 400/1000 3000 were fine but the 8000 was very over optimistic. Hardly an 8k.

Better off saving up and buying something better.

@Euclid440
0.09 Microns the IronX and 0.3 Microns the CrOx.

If the lower ends are fine I may go for it, as I'm finding cumbersome setting up the bevel and using the coarse r films.

With stones it is as much about the binder as it is the grit. Most cheap stones use a soft binder that wears the stone quickly out of flat.

While they “work”, you would probably be better off setting the bevel with a 1k of the type you listed and polishing that stria with film.

But really having used film extensively, in the long term it is not cheaper solution than a quality stone. A $26 combo King stone that will last most folks a lifetime is a good deal.

So too with paste, it is not just about the grit size, but grit shape and consistency of size. Chrome Oxide has been used effectively with razors for hundreds of years.

Have you looked at the edge from Iron X under magnification? Most metal polish contains Aluminum Oxide and will polish a razor bevel to a mirror finish, but will leave a harsh, micro chippy edge.

I would agree not to chance going on the cheap with something like a hone that will potentially be an heirloom. Maybe they are good, maybe not. I tell my customers that the cheapest way is almost never the least expensive. I bought the Norton combination set with the flattening stone which has worked fine but I also have a King 1k/6k combination that was my Dad's. The king is definitely a better hone. As Marty said they are not very expensive. Especially if you are new to honing you don't need to complicate it more with equipment you are not familiar with and not even sure if it is any good or not. How will you know if it is a problem with technique or equipment?

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

I bought the Norton combination set with the flattening stone which has worked fine.

Hi Paul,

Obviously the Norton Flattening stone is for lapping the 220/1k 4k/8k combo but is it suitable to make slurry and coud it be used to lap a 12k Naniwa too?

Ok I will go for the King stone.
I didn't check out the edge after the IronX, but I can definitely feel it's smoother than shaving after the 1micron film alone.

Originally Posted by STF

Hi Paul,

Obviously the Norton Flattening stone is for lapping the 220/1k 4k/8k combo but is it suitable to make slurry and coud it be used to lap a 12k Naniwa too?

I have used it to flatten other stones but I never really did much with slurry but I imagine so. It certainly creates a lot One thing I will say about that flattening stone, at least with the Norton stones, you can make them very rough with it if you are too aggressive with it. I try to use it with very light strokes under the spigot and the flattening stone on the bottom.