Thread: The C-Nat-athon

The C-Nat-athon is here ladies and gentlemen, so it's time to grab your C-nat, PHIG, Chinese 12k, Guangxi stone or whatever you like to call it and record your results as a contest here. Since it is a natural stone it will be interesting seeing what everyone's is like as they all differ just as any natural. This should be pretty fun so join in.

Rules:

1. You must have a C-nat/PHIG
2. Start with a dull edge
3. You may use any type of bevel setter you wish
4. If you can, I would like everyone to use a Norton 4k/8k. If you don't have one you may use any type of progression you like as long as you document the stones used and finish with a C-nat/PHIG
5. Post your results starting with your progression and method beginning to end
6. Post a picture of your stone (if you can)

So if you want to join the contest, just say "I'm in"!

I've got one but I have no idea how to use it...so I'm very happy to read what everyone has to say.

Originally Posted by U2Bono269

I've got one but I have no idea how to use it...so I'm very happy to read what everyone has to say.

That's why I thought this would be a good idea, because like the Janorton thread this is another stone most people are likely to have and start out with. So join in people!

Originally Posted by U2Bono269

I've got one but I have no idea how to use it...so I'm very happy to read what everyone has to say.

YES! I don't have one and also have no idea how to use it...so I am..uh..happy to read about what everyone has to say too. Are not they all a bit different, though? How can you standardize results? I understand they are great hones! The techniques used should be interesting as well......has been so far!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

YES! I don't have one and also have no idea how to use it...so I am..uh..happy to read about what everyone has to say too. Are not they all a bit different, though? How can you standardize results? I understand they are great hones! The techniques used should be interesting as well.

The only way to standardize the results is to document everything about your stones characteristics and just maybe if we get enough people to do so someone may identify there stone has similar characteristics as one of us, and with collective knowledge with what works best for you may help someone down the road. Other than that there is no true way to standardize the results, but with enough knowledge I believe it will be helpful. Hopefully

It definitely will be helpful, IMO

Shave Report #1:

I honed a 4/8 Salamandar that I had used before with good success. The only problem was I dulled it up pretty well using my C12k incorrectly, with a surface that was not truly finished well.

In a previous post I spoke about how I re-lapped it then took it up to 8k and polished the heck out of so that it almost shines, even when dry.

After going thru the normal progression to 8k, this razor was sharp enough to shave with already. I know because I've done it before. This time however, I did 200 X's on the Cnat, doing 20 circles in between every 25 X's using very light pressure, almost just the weight of the razor.

Right after dinner, I was anxious as heck to shave with it tonight, and I had very high expectations. I took extra precautions during my pre-shave prep, and using just VDH straight to the face for the first pass I was highly impressed. It cleaned all the spots I expected to be cleaned in 1 pass, and left the rest as was expected as well.

For the second pass XTG I used some shave gel (non foaming gel called: Rise baby face shave gel) that I got for my wifes legs and her DE originally. I rubbed it in good, then lathered over the top of that with the VDH that was still in the brush. the XTG was good enough to not even need an ATG, but I did one anyway, using the same prep. It was truly a DFS result.

I am so impressed with this stone now. Before I had never gotten decent results when using it, so I was about to write it off as not worth the small amount I paid for it, but now I think it is worth every cent!!

I do believe the trick is in how I prepped the stone, and the fact that I couldn't raise a slurry on it, so basically it was a really light slurry for the first 25 X's and after that was clear water.

I did strop it another 100 laps before shaving, so the total was 100 felt - 300 leather before the razor ever touched my face.

No nicks, no tug or pull, no weepers and best of all, hardly no feedback from the alum block or the AS, which was Osage Rub, followed by some good old British Sterling Edt.

I tell ya men, it was a DFS!! Tomorrow I'm going to hone up one of my Spikes from my 7 day set and test the same process on a wedge and see what I think. I will have to use tape on the spike, so it will be an interesting experiment still. As I sit here I am still faceturbating like crazy it was such a good shave. hehehe.

That's it for tonight!!

Happy honing men!!

Mike

Don't you think it would be a good idea to standardize the pre-c12k progression? That way everyone's results are truly comparable?

Originally Posted by myersn024

Don't you think it would be a good idea to standardize the pre-c12k progression? That way everyone's results are truly comparable?

Yes I thought of that, I was going to make one of the rules being you had to use a Norton 4k/8k as the progression towards the C-nat but I figured less people would join.

I'm in. I've got three identical razors in need of honing.