Thread: Chinese 12k leaves edge dull?

+1 to Stubear's slurry technique. Heavy slurry will dull a blade.

What's already said. I did a razor on a C12K earlier today, and started with slurry, doing 5-6 regular strokes, dip the razor, 5-6 x-strokes, dip again, 4 rounds of that and then about the same with water only, ended up with a very sharp edge that was über smooth.

Okay, as soon as I get back home I will give it a few more passes. When I applied slurry it didn't feel like 12k hone but rather something far down below 10 in my opinion, it just sounds not like polishing but rather aggresive honing.

When I use my PHIG, I only use water; no slurry.

I can´t recommend the people's hones own slurry either. It is quite coarse and leaves worse scratches than medium japanese naturals.
I could indeed recommend a medium or fine slurry stone made out of a japanese natural, and slurry the PHIG with that.

If I where you I would try to finish my razor on the best stone I currently have (hopefully something around the 8k mark) and
put the razor on the C12k for another 40 laps. If you are not yet satisfied, add another layer of tape and do 10-20 more laps and see if it works

btw. how is the condition of the surface of your PHIG? Did you finish the stone yourself, or use it like it was?

It came pre-lapped by vendor (open_razor). I didn't touch it since then. It's nearly flat with slight curve in the middle. I could sometimes feel like if the hone was "catching" the razor, the passes weren't smooth. And now after your post i'm coming to conclusion that it needs lapping. Is 1000g sandpaper enugh for that type of stone?

Originally Posted by wojtek

It's nearly flat with slight curve in the middle. [...] Is 1000g sandpaper enugh for that type of stone?

1000 grit is enough to finish the stone, but if you can actually see or feel that it isn't flat, you should start with more aggressive paper to save time/paper/elbows.


On the other hand...

Originally Posted by wojtek

I could sometimes feel like if the hone was "catching" the razor, the passes weren't smooth.

I can get the same from my Chinese stone when the razor isn't quite ready for it. Dropping back down to 8k for a bit often fixes it.

So basically, the idea is to make hone surface glaze, is that correct? Does that apply to every type polishing hone? What does Shapton 12k look like, is it glassy or matt?