Chinese 12k: Wet vs. Dry

Philadelph · 07-19-2008, 07:15 AM

What do you guys do in terms of the chinese 12k? Wet or dry while honing? The box obviously states to use water, but those pics on Zowadas website always seemed to show a better edge while honing dry. I have done both and can't say I've come to a conclusion yet. Dry feels more natural for that particular stone- smoother maybe. Just curious if anyone has a preference.

moviemaniac · 07-19-2008, 10:15 AM

I've used mine only wet so far.

kelbro · 07-19-2008, 01:06 PM

I have used mine both ways and I don't think that I can tell any difference. It's so hard and slow cutting that I don't think it removes that much steel while polishing. I feel that it is probably best for the stone to use it wet so that's the method that I have landed on. FWIW, I'm only using it after a coticule.

xChris · 07-19-2008, 06:21 PM

If I'm using it to finish up a razor with a new edge, I use it wet always. However, I have used it dry when I wanted a minor touchup to a razorr that's had slight use; one it was faster than getting it wet/soaking, and two it felt finer/smoother while honing like you stated.

randydance062449 · 07-20-2008, 01:33 PM

I use mine wet...always. I want the swarf to be moved out of the way.

I also have found that it works nicely in a progression of 8K-coticule-escher-chinese 12k-chrome ox.

JohnP · 07-20-2008, 09:23 PM

One day, I'll lower the level of my stubbornness and add one of those to my collection. You guys' posting about them here is bad for my wallet.
In fact, most of the things on this site are bad for my wallet.

John P.

Utopian · 07-23-2008, 02:17 AM

Well, on the bright side, the Chinese 12K is nowhere near as bad for your wallet as a lot of other things. Of course the cumulative effect can be quite bad but the 12K by itself is a great deal!

Come over to the dark side!

Scorpio · 07-23-2008, 06:43 PM

Funny thing I saw this thread. Just last night I used my 12K dry while refreshing a few edges. WOW!!!!!! what a difference that made. I have used the 12K wet during honing. But last night was a revelation for me. I had my buddy with me, also a straight shaver, and he could not believe how sharp they were. I did get it wet between blades to remove any deposits but then proceeded to dry it before I got started on the next blade. I am going to try to use it dry during a complete honing job when I get one but for now if I have to refresh an edge...dry stone it will be.

Raf

SteveS · 07-23-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpio

Funny thing I saw this thread. Just last night I used my 12K dry while refreshing a few edges. WOW!!!!!! what a difference that made.

Have you shave-tested any of the blades? Are they smooth-feeling on the face, as well as sharp?

Philadelph · 07-24-2008, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpio

Just last night I used my 12K dry while refreshing a few edges. WOW!!!!!! what a difference that made. I have used the 12K wet during honing. But last night was a revelation for me. I am going to try to use it dry during a complete honing job when I get one but for now if I have to refresh an edge...dry stone it will be.

I have usually used it dry and gotten great results as well. That and those pics on Zowada's site of the dry 12k honing scratches on the bevel made me think that dry might be better, but I wanted other opinions here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveS

Have you shave-tested any of the blades? Are they smooth-feeling on the face, as well as sharp?

Oh yeah, they shave great when using wet or dry. As I just said I usually use them dry and get awesome edges that last. Off the top of my head I can't remember liking the wet edges better, but I don't think I've ever really done a side by side comparison.

holli4pirating · 07-24-2008, 12:33 AM

I find the whole wet/dry debate interesting. I was under the impression that with softer stones, you would cut faster but not get as fine an edge with water because a slurry forms. And with harder stones that won't form a slurry, I thought water formed some kind of a buffer to allow for a finer edge. Is that not universal?

Perhaps a wet vs dry summery for various stones in a sticky? Then again, it might vary from razor to razor and based on each person's individual technique.

Scorpio · 07-28-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveS

Have you shave-tested any of the blades? Are they smooth-feeling on the face, as well as sharp?

I shaved yesterday with one of the blades I dry honed(refreshed edge) on the 12k. Let me tell you it was smooooooooth!!!!! The blade was a Crown & Sword 5/8. That blade was never that smooth. I was going to sell it but now I am reconsidering.

Raf

Chris L · 07-29-2008, 02:23 AM

This post has given me greater initiative to dust off my Chinese 12K and put it back in honing rotation; Admittedly I've only used it a few times and purchased it just before going whole hog on the Shaptons.

The way I've neglected the 12K, I harken back to 2.5+ decades ago when I was in Junior High School. The 12K on my honing shelf is like the new kid that you know would be a great person to befriend, but instead you brush him off and ignore him. Worse yet, I'm like a disrespectful bully; I've been using it as a flat surface to tape my chromed newspaper to for edge polishing! Man do I feel guilty now! Especially since I was never a bully in school!

Chris L

randydance062449 · 07-29-2008, 02:28 AM

I will be giving this a try tomorrow. Very interesting thread!

Russel Baldridge · 07-30-2008, 03:24 PM

My 12k seems to polish the metal better when used dry, but feels like it cuts faster with water. I can't really tell the difference in the shave quality either way. Both are great.

Most natural finishing stones do well dry, just depends on the stone I guess. The Muller Thuringian that I have does better dry than it does wet, but one of my vintage Thuringers prefers water; trial and error is half the fun of natural stones! They each have their own personality.

Utopian · 08-17-2008, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randydance062449

I will be giving this a try tomorrow. Very interesting thread!

Okay Randy, times up. Have you tried it dry yet?

randydance062449 · 08-17-2008, 02:43 AM

Not yet but tomorrow will be a good time to try it. I may have 3-4 razors to hone tomorrow!

jscott · 08-17-2008, 03:15 AM

i like mine done wet. infact i keep a cup of water next to me while honing so that i can put a few drops of water on the hone when it dries out on top. thats my vote

~J

ps. i love the chinese 12k. still gets my vote as a top notch finisher especially at that price its unbeatable.

joke1176 · 08-17-2008, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

My 12k seems to polish the metal better when used dry, but feels like it cuts faster with water. I can't really tell the difference in the shave quality either way. Both are great...

I feel the same way about the Spyderco Fine and UF hones, and even my combo coticule. Big difference when wet v dry when cutting, but not much difference on the shave feel.

Ben325e · 08-17-2008, 09:18 AM

If I recall correctly, the pictures on Zowada's website showed that most stones gave a finer bevel finish with NO slurry vs. with slurry. In the paragraph before the pictures it says that ALL stones were used wet, except the spyderco which was used dry. Spyderco recommends that you use the ultra fine stone dry.

Ben