Thread: Chinese 12K for Touch-Up Honing

Is the Chinese 12K suitable for touch-up honing? There are too many unknowns with barber hones. I've read posts that the Chinese 12K makes an improvement on the Coticule so I guess it makes an improvement.

i use mine for touch ups and it works great. from what i have read i think the coticule is about the equivalent to a 10k, though i could be wrong as i have never used one, just read about them.

when i do a touch up i do quite a few laps on the chinese 12k as it seems to need it. the last time i think i did 80 laps. this might be over doing it, but it works for me.

I can get a Coticule but since the Chinese 12K is cheaper and finer, I thought it was better a option.

You can do touch ups on a Chinese 12K but the coticule has history and romance to it. They are great hones. Barbers used them for a century of two and they are far more versatile especially if you get a natural. Spend the twenty bucks for a 8X2 12k but get the natural too along with a slurry stone. For some razors you'll see, it will be like a horse & carriage.

Find me a Kiita like the one of yours I missed in the classifieds and you can have both my Chinese 12ks, a rubbing stone, and several coticules! I haven't seen many of them at that price.

Either the 12k or the coticule will work fine for touch ups. The advantage of the coticule is that it is constantly self renewing its surface by releasing grit. The 12k does not do this to any significant degree and over time glazes over and does not cut as well. This is not a problem if you lap it occasionally but it is a difference between the two options.

i don't know why i am not agree with you guys ?
i have barber hone and takes only 2-3 strokes edge is back?why You want to make a simple job harder?
belgian or chinese will take time more laps and then after each of them you must use chr02 etc.
Barber hone 3laps deal is done go to shave.take a look picture
Bud.

I like my Chinese for touch-ups. I've been very impressed with this stone - period - never mind the fact that it's so inexpensive.

Jordan

Originally Posted by Utopian

Find me a Kiita like the one of yours I missed in the classifieds and you can have both my Chinese 12ks, a rubbing stone, and several coticules! I haven't seen many of them at that price.

Either the 12k or the coticule will work fine for touch ups. The advantage of the coticule is that it is constantly self renewing its surface by releasing grit. The 12k does not do this to any significant degree and over time glazes over and does not cut as well. This is not a problem if you lap it occasionally but it is a difference between the two options.

That was my first Kiita. I will definitely look out for more because it really made a difference on my razors.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

i don't know why i am not agree with you guys ?
i have barber hone and takes only 2-3 strokes edge is back?why You want to make a simple job harder?
belgian or chinese will take time more laps and then after each of them you must use chr02 etc.
Barber hone 3laps deal is done go to shave.take a look picture
Bud.

But finding the right barber hone isn't guaranteed. There are just so many variations out there.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

i don't know why i am not agree with you guys ?
i have barber hone and takes only 2-3 strokes edge is back?why You want to make a simple job harder?
belgian or chinese will take time more laps and then after each of them you must use chr02 etc.
Barber hone 3laps deal is done go to shave.take a look picture
Bud.

Hey, if I had a C-Mon barber hone I wouldn't need anything else.

I agree with Sham. Barber hones are a great option. They only reason I didn't recommend them was because the original question was about comparing the Ch12k and coticules. Regarding the variability among barber hones, sure there is some but there are a lot of great ones out there. Swatys, real ones not the clones, are some of the most consistent barber hones ever made. I think you take very little risk if you get one of them and you really don't need anything else for maintenance.