Thread: Chinese 12k

Also, a warning to folks.

These stones vary in quality quite a lot and it's very difficult to tell by looking at it if you've got a good one.

I've got two of them, one from the Polish eBay seller linked upthread, and one from Woodcraft.

First of all, there really should not be a grit rating associated with these. They're natural stones.

That said, the larger one I got from Woodcraft is a step backward from a Norton 8k.

The one from Razors_Pl is wonderful, though. A very perceptible improvement over the Norton.

These days, I use the Woodcraft-sourced one as a plate for lapping film and also for flattening horn, but never for honing.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Also, a warning to folks.

These stones vary in quality quite a lot and it's very difficult to tell by looking at it if you've got a good one.

I've got two of them, one from the Polish eBay seller linked upthread, and one from Woodcraft.

First of all, there really should not be a grit rating associated with these. They're natural stones.

That said, the larger one I got from Woodcraft is a step backward from a Norton 8k.

The one from Razors_Pl is wonderful, though. A very perceptible improvement over the Norton.

These days, I use the Woodcraft-sourced one as a plate for lapping film and also for flattening horn, but never for honing.

That being said, I'll sell the one i bought from Woodcraft on eBay & I'll never buy another one again. I'm always so doubtful about buying chinese crap but I kept hearing so much good about these, I thought I'd try one but never again. I'll learn my lesson from this one!!!! Thanks Zak

Originally Posted by engine46

That being said, I'll sell the one i bought from Woodcraft on eBay & I'll never buy another one again. I'm always so doubtful about buying chinese crap but I kept hearing so much good about these, I thought I'd try one but never again. I'll learn my lesson from this one!!!! Thanks Zak

I'm not saying the one from Woodcraft isn't good!

You'll have to try and it and see. Compare to a known-commodity, like a Norton.

These stones are just wildly variable.

I just timed a touch up. It took me less than 2 minutes to complete 100 strokes using half strokes so if you have the skill it doesn't have to take long at all. I agree that it is not an easy stone to learn per se but it's a natural and not a synthetic. Synthetics are pretty straight forward and much easier to learn especially for someone not too motivated. My Guangxi hone was my first and it took some time but DEFINITELY worth the effort. I have since bought synthetics and tried them and sold them.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I'm not saying the one from Woodcraft isn't good!

You'll have to try and it and see. Compare to a known-commodity, like a Norton.

These stones are just wildly variable.

Ok, I'll give it a ry. I decided to go ahea & keep it as I do use a lot of horn for scales & if nothing else can use it for flattening scales like you suggested.

Originally Posted by engine46

Ok, I'll give it a ry. I decided to go ahea & keep it as I do use a lot of horn for scales & if nothing else can use it for flattening scales like you suggested.

The good ones can be really good!

Originally Posted by engine46

That being said, I'll sell the one i bought from Woodcraft on eBay & I'll never buy another one again. I'm always so doubtful about buying chinese crap but I kept hearing so much good about these, I thought I'd try one but never again. I'll learn my lesson from this one!!!! Thanks Zak

Why would you do that. Have you even tried it yet? Its a natural, they vary, thats what they do. You know I have a coticule that is so smooth it makes butter jealous, then I have a coticule that is courser than the BBW side of it. Do I regret buying it. No I do not. It is still a very useful stone. When I bought my Chinese stone, I was apprehensive about its capabilities. Everyone described the indicators of a bad stone and mine seemed to have all those qualities. Did I turn it around and sell it? No I figured out a place for it in my progression. Then guess what after a while I finally figured out how to truly use it. Its not a bad stone at all. It rivals my best finisher. Did I have to buy 4 of them to find the best one? No, I got lucky and got a good one even though I didn't know it at first. Not saying your is crap or not but don't assume the stone is crap just because some one else said they vary in quality and the one he got from wood craft sucked. It doesn't mean yours sucks. You have to try for yourself before you can say whether its crap or not. Then that too even depends on variables. Maybe it won't work for you but maybe for someone else they can get it too work because their skill is different.

People always go on about the JNATs too. Do you know how often those things vary from one extreme to the next? A stupid amount. Coticules too. Yet people are always buying them praising them too.

Natural hone threads are all the same just with a different name.

Originally Posted by engine46

That being said, I'll sell the one i bought from Woodcraft on eBay & I'll never buy another one again. I'm always so doubtful about buying chinese crap

They are not made by the Chinese. Hahahaha. They are in the earth and have been there long before China was a country. Lol.

Originally Posted by Steel

They are not made by the Chinese. Hahahaha. They are in the earth and have been there long before China was a continent. Lol.

Perfect. I thanked and liked this and if I could do it again I would.

Yes they are natural. i.e. some are better than others.

Lapping can leave the surface rough and in need of burnishing.

Mine from Woodcraft needed lapping badly.

It pays to take a chunk of sacrificial steel and burnish
the surface smooth and rinse well before putting
a good razor on it.

Mine with slurry is terrible. Burnished and rinsed
clean is a lot nicer.

Some razors respond better than others.

A very light touch is recommended if you have one like mine.

In fifty years the best might trade for a fortune on eBay the
bad ones having been abused on axes and pocket knives
then tossed in the trash as worthless rocks.

I love the raw heft and mass of mine.
Shapton hones are so much better