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I finally got one of these to see what all the fuss was about. Since most of the natural stones I have seen and heard of do not require soaking before use I was surprised to see the instructions on the side of the box. I got this from Woodcraft and here is the box and stone. Assuming you have the same model, have you been soaking it before you use it ? :thinking:
I don't soak my Chinese 12K, just pour some water on it and then keep it wet while I use it.
I also thought that was odd, Jimmy and I can say I've never even tried soaking it. The thought seemed rather silly to me given how hard the stone is.
Hey, try it with slurry as well and finish with water. See what you think of that.
Chris L
Thanks gents, I took it on a trial run once and I did soak it. I'm one of those who tends to RTFM and follow the instructions. :) It didn't hurt anything but I will try it without the soak. Chris, I have the beautiful slurry stone I got from you and I do intend to put it to use. :tu
I usually soak mine, but I can't say that I can really tell a difference. In the dry Las Vegas air, I need to keep spraying the surface anyway.
Jimmy i have chinese stone over year never soaked.it is very slow cutter.i just use water when i put blade on it.
Hi Jimmy,
I use mine frequently. I like the way the razor feels off the 12k followed by cro2. Once my razors start to drag, or get dull, That's my first line of defense. I use the slurry to cut honing time in half. I soak mine, although it doesn't really have any affect. the stone will still dry out. As you said, I'm one the follow the instructions.
Rich
I usually soak mine but only because I have the "pond" and put my Nortons & other stones in it while I hone.
Never thought about it!:shrug:
I live in Easter NC and it's very humid here. I've soaked the 12k and I've not soaked the 12k, and honestly, I believe they dry out just as fast either way if left sitting there. Soaking the 12k is a time-waster.
Hi Jimmy,
I keep mine soaking in a Swiffer type (generic brand from BJ's) wet pad container most of the time. Seems like when I dry it off and put it away it is back out again in a day. It works fine that way. I haven't tried going from dry to honing. :shrug:
I never soak mine. I just wet it for use. I've tried it dry too & it seemed fine.
Another "nope" here. I wet the top and let 'er rip.
I've been meaning to give a slurry stone a try for it as a kind of intermediate after the 8K, or as a first step in a "touch up." Maybe I'll go order one from ChrisL.
I have the same stone and mine has been living in water for about a month now. It only comes out for honing. It doesn't seem to be withering away from staying in water. I leave it in water because the side of the box said to let it soak for half an hour before use and I have never found myself in the mood to wait half an hour before honing. I can't really compare how it is dry to how it is when it's been soaking. I've only used it after it has soaked.
Unless I'm badly mistaken ChrisL is sold out on them :shrug: Zib has some for sale here and although it is marked sold he says in the text to PM him as all of them are not yet sold.Quote:
Originally Posted by smokelaw1
I got one when Chris had them and it is worth the $$ to me anyway.
The Global stones are ceramic, but the instructions say to soak for this reason.
They want that black watery crap on the stone. That acts as a slurry and amps the cutting power.
I tried my ceramic wet and dry and the wetter it is the better and faster it cuts. Let that slurry work for you. Of course I also use an Eastern sharpening method. That may have something to do with it as well as this is how Global wants you to use their stone.
I may get one this weekend and I will be soaking it. The only stone I do not is the Col. Conk Arkansas. I works better dry, no water whatsoever. YMMV of course.
Ordered one from zib. Look forward to giving it a try!Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
Correct. I have no more Chinese 12k slurry stones to sell. I like what they do in kicking that stone's performance up a notch though.
Chris L
I tried it when I first acquired it but I don't soak mine anymore. Just splash a little water on and work up a slurry. Then just water, then a few strokes dry. Very nice finisher.
I soaked mine.
I was so fed up with the slow, SLOW honing of the 12K I threw it into Boston Harbor!
(OK, so I put it up in the classified instead....);)
Hi Jimmy - I've never soaked mine. I have left a puddle of water on it though to see if it would be absorbed, but a similar sized puddle on a sheet of glass evaporated in about the same time as that on the stone.
Getting a slip stone to make a slurry with is not too problematic - if you order a larger stone than you require, you can quite easily hacksaw a lump of the end. It flattens down with wet and dry - try 100, followed by 320, 600 and 1200.
ChrisLs idea of rounding the corners is great too - especialy on the hone itself - I find it much better than 45 degree chamfers - they give you two sharp edges instead of one!
Regards,
Neil
I tried mine with honing oil instead of water and it just sits on the surface for days. It seems to be a very non pourus stone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben325e
Did you revert back to water? If so did you notice any differences with regard to your edges? ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by PonderingTurtle
They say that once you use oil for waterstone you clog the pores and as such you can never go back...
Although I haven't had to try it myself I've been told that oven cleaner will get the oil out of a waterstone that has been mistreated. :shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by SiRed8
No, I don't soak mine. I did when I first got it because that's what it said on the box, but since it it such a hard stone, and doesn't actually absorb the water, I stopped. Now I just splash a little water on , spread it around, and start honing, adding a couple drops from time to time to keep it moist.
I've never tried but i know people who used car brake cleaner for taking oil out of stones and even for taking stearin away from stone and concrete.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
There's also some biological stuff that is used to take engine oil away from the ground, concrete plates etc. It is based on some bacteria that eat oil. Tried it few times and it worked.
Tried mine soaked and un-soaked without noticing any difference whatsoever. Now I don't soak it.
Big +1 on rounded edges. I've done it to all of my hones (except the the glass 30K).
Ive read elsewhere that it makes little difference whether soaked or not, which I believe is the general consensus of this thread.
I have never used this stone and wish to acquire one in the near future, although I am aware that it is deemed to be an extremely slow cutter.
Has anyone used both a C12K and an Escher?
If so, regardless of speed, cost, durability, what is the difference in edges achieved; or is it the same result as I have read previously?
I soaked mine and I'm glad I did. Not only does it seem to soak up water like a shop vac, it also sheds water fast. I soaked it and kept a small spray bottle near to keep it moist and water off of the table, and thus the wife cool. ;)
Since this thread is still around, I thought I'd update ya'll. Since I began cutting these guys up, I did an experiment. These stones absorb very little water during soaking. At least the one I cut did. I'm sure no two are exactly alike since they are a natural product. Some may be more pouros than others. I think you'd be better offer keeping a spray bottle by you. I cut one up that had been soaking for about 1 hour....2x the norm. It didn't really suck up any water, so unless this has some other effect that I'm unaware of, I don't see the point. It's a very hard, almost non pourous stone..Just keep the surface wet. When I want to hone, I want to do it right away. I don't like waiting 30 mins for my stones to soak....
Yes to Scipio, I've used both Escher and C12k, Escher is far superior in the edge it gives, No soaking, less strokes, and it's a rare stone, which makes it more valuable...I have several Escher's. Next to the Japanese Natural, it is my favorite and go to finisher....
my 12k remains in water all the time..i soak it and the japan 1000/6000k.
i also use a 12k slurry that i bought from zib and it speeds up the process and i really like the stone.
also in regards to getting the oil out of a stone, i have a simple cure, i soak the stone in water with DAWN liquid dish washing soap..seems to work quite well
I've never heard of removing oil with dish washing soap, so this was very useful information. I suppose it works only with 'clean' oils with low viscosity.Quote:
Originally Posted by 59caddy
Many people here built their fireplaces of natural stone plates. And as we all know, ladies want to have candles on them, and finally stearin soaks into stone. Very difficult to remove, but i know people use brake cleaners to make things done.
Scipio,
Yes it's a fairly slow stone. I haven't tried this yet, but I hear creating a slight slurry will speed it up though.
Going to get in touch with a stone mason soon, and get my C12k cut. Will try a slurry after I do :)
Thanks - you dont need a stone mason - a tile cutter for natural tiles, marble, travertine etc would cut that easily. They're not cheap so Id suggest hiring one, but for the price of hiring one, you could buy a slurry stone.
In fact, yeh, just get a slurry stone! They cost very little - i'm sure there are is a source for them in the classifieds somewhere..
EDIT
I checked, Zib has them for 10 dollars
Well, my grandfather is friends with a stone mason, and I want to cut it a few ways, so it would be easier. He would do it for free.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scipio
I'm not gonna buy a slurry stone for it when I can just get it cut :p