Thread: Higher Grit Stones ....

I recently went back to utilizing the 13,000 grit chinese waterstone I have after the 8K side of the Norton. In the past, I think I never gave it enough time on the 13K, and now relaize that the extra-fine grit requires at least wice the number of strokes to truly be effective. I think I had developed a sort of honing impatience after having excellent success for quite a while on the Stones.

But this time, I tried seeing if a longer period on the 13K would make a difference, and DOES IT EVER! Because of the smoother, and far slower action of the 13K, a lot longer is required, but oh! What an edge finally came off that rock! I sat and watched a TV show, all the while mindlessly running the blade over the 13K ..... stroke, flip, stroke, flip ....very little pressure, and even less for the final 50 or so.

This thing can split atoms again, but it shaves better than a similar sharpness using the diamond pastes! Maybe the 'polishing' effect is differents, or maybe the stone produces a straighter edge than the cutting pastes, I dunno. this is now going to get some experimentation with some other razors that are not quick to keen, but which hold their edges well. I'll let ya know!

anyway - the 13K is back in the arsenal again, with a smooth shave and a smile!

That's about the same grit as a fine barber's hone. Have you tried one? If so, is there a differenece.

I've found new respect for the things old barbers did. These guys were professionals and wouldn't use something if it didn't work well or reliably. After all, they didn't earn their livelihood honing.

Originally Posted by Chaaaz

I recently went back to utilizing the 13,000 grit chinese waterstone I have after the 8K side of the Norton. In the past, I think I never gave it enough time on the 13K, and now relaize that the extra-fine grit requires at least wice the number of strokes to truly be effective. I think I had developed a sort of honing impatience after having excellent success for quite a while on the Stones.

But this time, I tried seeing if a longer period on the 13K would make a difference, and DOES IT EVER! Because of the smoother, and far slower action of the 13K, a lot longer is required, but oh! What an edge finally came off that rock! I sat and watched a TV show, all the while mindlessly running the blade over the 13K ..... stroke, flip, stroke, flip ....very little pressure, and even less for the final 50 or so.

This thing can split atoms again, but it shaves better than a similar sharpness using the diamond pastes! Maybe the 'polishing' effect is differents, or maybe the stone produces a straighter edge than the cutting pastes, I dunno. this is now going to get some experimentation with some other razors that are not quick to keen, but which hold their edges well. I'll let ya know!

anyway - the 13K is back in the arsenal again, with a smooth shave and a smile!

[quote="Joe Lerch"]That's about the same grit as a fine barber's hone. Have you tried one? If so, is there a differenece.

*****>> Yep - I use several baber hones as well; an ITSAPEECH and a VELVET EDGE I got from Tilly. They are both okay, and very nice "finishing" hones. But the 13K is larger, easier to work with, and seems to put a real nice polich on the edges. Just take a more strokes.

I still use them all. Take the barbers when travelling, and they work well, too. I have learned to adjust to each stone in turn.

Best -

I have also had really good luck using the Belgium Coticule as a finishing stone. It too requires more strokes, but similar results and not using the pastes in following much these days. Lynn

That 13000 grit Chinese waterstone is really a wonder! I don't think I'll ever wear mine out but I'm thinking about getting another just in case - the price is so good that it just seems like a good idea in case something ever happens to the one I've got now.

I've got somewhere between 8 and 10 barber hones and none of them puts the kind of finish on a razor that these Chinese waterstones do. The Belgian Coticle stone gives a nice polish, too, but not as fine as I can get from the 13K waterstone. They are slow cutting, but for finishing, they should be. In my opinion, the resulting edge is better than I can get with the Belgian Coticle stone, too. When finished just right on the Chinese waterstone, the blade is as about as keen as I can get with the .50 diamond pastes.

where do you get them?

thanks

The Woodcraft store or www.woodcraft.com

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx...;FamilyID=4920

This is the stone.

Silly question: do you need to use a nagura when using this stone?

No!. Do not use a Nagura stone on the Chinese stone or the Norton 8000.

The abrasive particles of the Nagura are not fine enough.

Hope this helps,

The link didn't work. Where can you buy this 13K grit stone? How much is it?