Introducing the Pierka, another great French natural honing stone from 1Stone.
NOTE: Though not shown each bout will come along with a small Pierka slurry stone.
Stone Description: The Pierka stone performs akin to an 8000 grit water stone, achieving a high polish. Its dark greenish-gray appearance boasts a smooth, robust texture, and its surface exhibits open pores resembling wood grain. When lightly tapped, it emits a distinct ringing sound, and it retains minimal water while providing excellent tactile feedback.
Comparative Analysis: In comparison to other offerings from 1Stone, the Pierka shares a similar grit to La Lune but offers a harder and slightly finer texture. While it falls softer than the Green Shadow or the Black Shadow stones, it serves as a suitable precursor to these finishing stones.
Additional Stone Functions: Included with the Pierka is a smaller piece of the same stone, usable for cleaning, surface smoothing, or generating a slurry. Should it require leveling, a diamond stone of 600 grit or higher can flatten the Pierka.
Slurry Usage: The Pierka can be effectively used with or without a slurry. The smaller stone, when used with water, generates a slurry on the main stone's surface. With a denser slurry, it mimics the performance of an 8000 grit water stone. Gradually diluting the slurry by adding more water shifts its performance towards that of a 10,000 grit water stone.
Alternative Fluids: 1Stone suggests the use of oil or Glycerin for achieving a shinier finish compared to water. Switching between oil and water is feasible as long as the stone is thoroughly cleaned. Cleaning can be carried out using soapy water.