Suehiro Rika Use Questions

started with the Suehiro Rika 5k on the Hiro AS out of the box. the stone looks like this after just a couple minutes. am i doing something wrong? most of it wouldnt wash off. never seen that before.

That's normal.

Looks like you didn't...
A) Soak it long enough
B) flatten it.

El Pescador said:

Looks like you didn't...
A) Soak it long enough
B) flatten it.

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soaked it for 20 or 30m

did not flatten it out of the box

Try flattening it...

Also round the edges.


BTW, where's the stone's base, did you remove it?

Dave Martell said:

Also round the edges.


BTW, where's the stone's base, did you remove it?

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this particular one didn't come with a base.

thats weird. maybe use a nagura next time if you have one. but i dont think rikas usually need one.


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Dave Martell said:

Also round the edges.

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round the edges of the stone? like the sides and corners? use my diamond plate?

labor of love said:

thats weird. maybe use a nagura next time if you have one. but i dont think rikas usually need one.

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don't have one. only have a
beston 500 King 1200 and the rika 5k

Yes

greasedbullet said:

Yes

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any particular reason why?

From your photo, it looks like the right side corner along the length of the stone is high. rounding it will prevent your sharpening efforts from being focused on that part of the stone and allow it to be istributed over a larger area.

Nothing out of the ordinary with that picture

The Rika, more than any of my other stones, tends to get clogged/loaded. Yours looks normal for a few minutes of use, I wouldn't worry about it. But after heavier use you may notice that it starts to feel scratchy. I'm OCD about mine and flatten/clean between every knife with a diamond plate. I don't even like to flatten my other stones, just wear 'em out with normal use, but the Rika feels much better when it's clean. My two cents. I also find the longer it is in water, the better.

Agreed the rika feels buttery smooth when clean but I find I have to flatten it beyween every use. Not so much to flatten but to take clogged swarf out of it. I've started perma-soaking mine and have noticed improvement.

eighteesix said:

started with the Suehiro Rika 5k on the Hiro AS out of the box. the stone looks like this after just a couple minutes. am i doing something wrong? most of it wouldnt wash off. never seen that before.

Click to expand...

That looks like residue from cladding, for me. No big deal.

I've found that the longer Rikas soak, the better they work. Flatten it, chamfer the edges, soak it overnight, and you might be pleasantly surprised. You'll probably still get some of those black streaks, but it will feel great and work great.

I just hold it under running water and scrub it with my fingers or a paper towel and most of the clogging comes off. At least it does for me.

Beveling the edges helps keeping them from chipping + you never want high edges on a stone.Also get a small spray bottle to mist the stone while sharpening,works well to loosen mud.

Sounds like you have some good stones & quality knife too.

keithsaltydog said:

Sounds like you have some good stones & quality knife too.

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ha i hope so! thanks. gonna go at it again tonight putting some new techniques to use.

Listen to the sound the stone makes when you are sharpening. I feel it when it starts to get clogged and swear it sounds different (less gritty?).

El Pescador said:

Listen to the sound the stone makes when you are sharpening. I feel it when it starts to get clogged and swear it sounds different (less gritty?).

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Yup. Sounds totally different. Same goes for the Bester 1200 among other stones too.