Thread: Is this an okay stone?

Originally Posted by stimpy52

Draw a pencil grid on ONE side, use a permanent marker to draw an arrow "up" on the side of the stone, Rub in circles on a piece of 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper -- check after 8-10 circles -- is grid gone? -- if so, you're done. If some of your grid is still there, consider flattening on 400 grit wet/dry, then re-polish the stone on 1000 or 1500 grit. The arrow on the side is so you only need to beat yourself flattening one side.

But using 1000grit W&D paper wouldn't that take ages? At my stones i start at 300grit until its smooth and the 600 and the finish 1000g

I use the regular Norton flattening stone on my C12K. As a bonus I wind up with some nice stone dust to make into a slurry when I need it.

Originally Posted by Absur

But using 1000grit W&D paper wouldn't that take ages? At my stones i start at 300grit until its smooth and the 600 and the finish 1000g

The 1k is for checking the stone,or polishing the stone, not final flattening. The Woodcraft stones are often cut pretty nicely, and there's always the chance it will be flat when you get it. Slim chance, but worth checking before you go making a big mess and wasting sandpaper.

"I'm looking for a finishing stone to use after my Norton 8K stone."

After Norton 8K stone you can use 12K Chinese natural stone. It's good and final. Very often it gives an effect of overhoning to the razor.

Maybe if you make 1000+ passes it could happen, but I don't think so

No, no, not 1000 passes. But probably one hundred. The point is, that Chinese stones are like lotery. First stone, blueish, which I bought, was not good. Luckily these stones do not cost much. I purchased another one greyblueish. After lapping it showed much better cutting. Frankly speaking I value this stone much more than 35$, which I paid for it.
There is another thing with stones. I collect razors and stones, from time to time I buy or sell something. When I sell a razor, I sell it well honed. But I'm not professional, I do honing some 25-30 times per year. It's not a problem for me to make 100 passes, I like honing. I'm not a professional honemeister. Those stones, which I have, are much more than I need. I have Escher, thin and not comfortable when I held it. I use it together with strop to maintain razors, which I use for shaving. Last time I notice, that more and more I'm turning to chinese from Escher in honing.

Do yourself a favor and get a naniwa 12K from www.straightrazordesigns don't mess with the C12K/PHIG

You will thank me in the end...

The WoodCraft PHIG is pretty good. I got one from them and I have been very pleased. It is a hard, slow cutting stone, but it leaves a great edge. I used 220g w/d paper for the initial flattening and then went up until it was smooth. For the money, you can't beat it. I can understand why guys who hone lots of razors don't like it, as it takes a LONG time, but if you're like me and only have a few razors, it's not bad. Now, with that said I have been drooling over the naniwa 12k, and am looking to acquire one of those as soon as I can so who knows? I may have a completely turned around opinion of the PHIG in a few months..........

Note the differences in opinion ????

By their very nature natural stones create this, all natural stones are different, even stones from the same mine or quarry can be hugely different in honing ability... It all comes down to what stone mother nature tosses yer way....

Here is a bit more reading on the PHIG in particular

http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...nese-hone.html

I bought a nani 12k to replace my PHIG, and I will never look back. Much faster, consistent results, known grit, much better overall for me.