AliExpress sent an email this morning about this stone being reduced to £8.49.
That's nice of them. What is the shipping?AliExpress sent an email this morning about this stone being reduced to £8.49.
I think it was around the same price as the actual stone.That's nice of them. What is the shipping?
If you get one, post on B&B with how you found using it. I am interested in seeing how others find it to use and if I was just lucky to get the one I got.I think it was around the same price as the actual stone.
Now all you need is disposable income.I'm glad I read this thread when I'm getting my sets together. I'm making the transition into SR from Japanese knives. So all I need is a good finishing stone. I understand diamond paste is easier and fools proof. But staying with natural seems true to myself from avoiding disposable products.
I don't buy Gillette Fusion x (50 years), I think I'm saving.Now all you need is disposable income.
I tried to count the laps and it was about 200 laps. How often would you do this procedure to refresh the edge? How often do you lap this stone?I agree. I should have added that I am now finishing my Cnat progressions with edge trailing laps when using clear water with just the faintest amount of lather.
Earlier in this thread I detailed my initial normal Cnat full progression. Here is what my full Cnat progression now consists of:
- Start with a shave-ready edge off an 8k or higher whetstone or 1.0μm flim.
- Develop a light slurry on the Cnat using a 600 diamond plate.
- Fifteen laps plus 3 pull strokes.
- End-for-end the Cnat
- Repeat step 3
- Add a little water if needed.
- Repeat steps 3 to 5.
- Rinse blade under running water to remove all traces of slurry.
- Add water, now down to no slurry.
- Repeat steps 3 to 8.
- Rinse blade thoroughly under running water.
- Add water with just a small amount of lather.
- Fifteen laps plus 6 short X strokes.
- End-for-end the Cnat.
- Repeat step 13.
- Add a little water with lather if needed.
- Repeat steps 13 to 15.
- Repeat step 11.
- Rinse blade thoroughly under running water and dry.
Once all is finished, if needed, protect the blade from oxidation until use. Just prior to use, strop the blade on a hanging clean leather strop about 60 laps - weight of blade only and strop held tight enough so that there is no noticeable deflection in the strop while stropping.
- Cnat is bench mounted or may be held in hand if preferred.
- All laps and strokes are done with weight of blade only as pressure.
- All laps and strokes are done with edge leading except when including lather with the water. Then they are done edge trailing.
It is not a lap count thing as every natural whetstone is different. With my Cnat, I "refresh" the edge after every shave. That is probably not needed by I just like a fresh edge with every shave.I tried to count the laps and it was about 200 laps. How often would you do this procedure to refresh the edge? How often do you lap this stone?
Very interesting one.
Get a black, trans or true hard ark from dans and and you won't have to gamble.I'm glad I read this thread when I'm getting my sets together. I'm making the transition into SR from Japanese knives. So all I need is a good finishing stone. I understand diamond paste is easier and fools proof. But staying with natural seems true to myself from avoiding disposable products.
Do you know how true hard ark compares to Imperia La Roccia? I'm thinking about ilr because of the price.Get a black, trans or true hard ark from dans and and you won't have to gamble.
I have both the ILR and a translucent ark. I much prefer the ark. It produces keener, smoother edges. But your prefinish work needs to be absolutely on point. I do sometimes use my ILR between 8k and the ark but I have to be careful because spending too much time on ot will take the edge backwards. But, used carefully, 20 laps max with very light pressure, it can make a pleasant shaving edge. Not everyone has had great results with them though.Do you know how true hard ark compares to Imperia La Roccia? I'm thinking about ilr because of the price.
Fortunately I have the time for the extra laps I put in on the Cnat. I agree with you that honing and maintaining on a natural whetstone is a different and wonderful feeling compared to synthetics, films and, yes, even pasted balsa.It sounds like that you got a good stone - Congrats! I’ve always wanted to try a good one.
There is something about a natural finish vs synth, you can feel it. The best synth is likely the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k, which is about $200. Pricey, but it’s a lifetime stone. It’s fast, it’s hard, and it makes a very nice edge, probably the best of the synths. It’s not the same as a good natural finish, but it’s in the ballpark. It’s the stone that you want if you want the PHIG edge in 20 strokes.
I agree that there's something different about the finish natural finishing stones leave. I've found that it changes the range of uses I get out of all my other blades tools. The different finishes, teeth or no teeth, aggressive edge or buttery smooth.... I had never considered it before but each knife, chisel, plane iron, kitchen knife, axe, ect... all have stones that are better suited for different purposes, even on the same tool. Even the same types of tools may benefit from different stones due to steel composition. My Les lat was cutting me plane irons faster than a cheap 220# diamond plate, way faster. I was surprised by the speed. It was faster than my old hard India stone too. I think the coticule edge cut the very old hardwood my house is made of much better than the toothy edge from a washita or even a hard ark. I wouldn't have guessed, the wood is like iron. I've done lots of sharpening and an sitting on a pile of rocks but I often have revelations and then fell like in only scratching the surface of it all. I suppose that's the fun...a ride that doesn't end.It sounds like that you got a good stone - Congrats! I’ve always wanted to try a good one.
There is something about a natural finish vs synth, you can feel it. The best synth is likely the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k, which is about $200. Pricey, but it’s a lifetime stone. It’s fast, it’s hard, and it makes a very nice edge, probably the best of the synths. It’s not the same as a good natural finish, but it’s in the ballpark. It’s the stone that you want if you want the PHIG edge in 20 strokes.