Thread: NOS Escher vs Thuringian

Originally Posted by Sirshavesalot

Why would anyone spend 250 for a stone let alone 300, when you can buy diamond lapping film and do the entire process for under 40 bucks total. I have a chinese 12k and the slurry from you and that's all the stones I need or want. Sorry to sound so glib, just feel that people here get into stones the way they get into razors, I'd rather buy razors then stones any day, just my opinion. I want to shave not sharpen.

cheers
David

I agree that it is a "different strokes for different folks" kind of thing. Different faces, different beard types. Individual preferences for edge keenness, harshness and smoothness. Add to that that different razors, too, in my limited experience, tend to "prefer" different hones and finishes.

Sure you can get a very good shaving edge with diamond film. For me, personally, I like the diamond finish with harder full hollow steels like friodurs, fillies, and ducks, but a lot of times find it too harsh. I still keep my chinese hone and work with it from time to time, but never really liked the edges I got from it compared to other finishers. Lately I have been liking the escher's smooth edges on wedges and quarter hollows. It just makes them that much smoother and my shaves irritation-free. Again, it boils down to personal preferences, and is part of the fun.

For some of us buying one or two razors and whatever the bare essential required to maintain the edge is enough. For others each razor is an adventure. I would rather get a razor that isn't shave ready.

Same with the hones. I could have gotten along fine with the Norton set I started with but the mysterious coticule and the legendary Escher beckoned. Not everyone hears the siren song. For those of us who do it is an enjoyable pursuit.

It isn't that I don't enjoy bringing out an edge on a razor, and I definately love restoring a razor to shave condition. I just cannot see spending an amount like $300 for a stone, that a $10 peice of lapping film can do. I know most everyone will respond that edge off that $300 hone is just fabulous. However, I think like 99% of us eventually take that same edge wether it came off $10 lapping film or a $300 hone, and strop it with CrOx and then leather. To me what's the difference when the end is relatively simialr if your polishing it on the same finishing material. I just also would rather spend that same $300 on a few choice blades or some creams, strops, and brushes. I know everyone likes something different but to me the shave is the best part. I wouldn't be doing this whole shaving thing with DE's or straights if it didn't make me happy to shave with this antique stuff. I could always go back to some cheesy Mach 3 and start sharpening knives and meet you guys halfway lol j/k

cheers
D

I could shave with anything. I could dig out my old Norelco I got in 1980. Until last year, when I gave it to someone on this forum, I could have used my Atra, which was my first razor. I really like shaving with straights because I get a better shave but the thing that I really, really like about straight shaving is that I AM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OF MY SHAVE! That's why I like honing. It's the equivalent to the difference in level of satisfaction between when you buy a nice piece of furniture and when you make your own nice piece of furniture. I like being fully responsible for the quality of my shave, all my myself, without relying on a trip to the drugstore to buy more Chinese crap, without wasting any resources, without help from anyone or anything, except for my rocks.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I could shave with anything. I could dig out my old Norelco I got in 1980. Until last year, when I gave it to someone on this forum, I could have used my Atra, which was my first razor. I really like shaving with straights because I get a better shave but the thing that I really, really like about straight shaving is that I AM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OF MY SHAVE! That's why I like honing. It's the equivalent to the difference in level of satisfaction between when you buy a nice piece of furniture and when you make your own nice piece of furniture. I like being fully responsible for the quality of my shave, all my myself, without relying on a trip to the drugstore to buy more Chinese crap, without wasting any resources, without help from anyone or anything, except for my rocks.

Damn Right! That's what it's all about right there.

Originally Posted by Don

IMHO Thuringians in no way compare to Eshers I have used both and hone alot and the Eshers are far Superior. To me the only thing coming close are some of the manmade cerimics when it comes to polishing an edge and that is all you are doing on these stomes.

Well it looks like I am going to have to hunt down an Esher now! LOL! I love stones!

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I have one of the stones Kees sells and am quite pleased with it, why not but from a known source AND one of us.


Tony

Just for the record, as a onetime newbie I have learned that the gents here are totally trustworthy and if I had to do it over again, I would get my stones from the guys here (as he bangs his head on the keyboard wondering what better stones are out there for better prices...)

Originally Posted by Utopian

I could shave with anything. I could dig out my old Norelco I got in 1980. Until last year, when I gave it to someone on this forum, I could have used my Atra, which was my first razor. I really like shaving with straights because I get a better shave but the thing that I really, really like about straight shaving is that I AM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OF MY SHAVE! That's why I like honing. It's the equivalent to the difference in level of satisfaction between when you buy a nice piece of furniture and when you make your own nice piece of furniture. I like being fully responsible for the quality of my shave, all my myself, without relying on a trip to the drugstore to buy more Chinese crap, without wasting any resources, without help from anyone or anything, except for my rocks.

damn skippy skippy !!!

For me its always a challenge.
Since I cannot test shave my razors, they have to be as good as possible.
There are a couple of guys just waiting for someone to complain about a lousy shave with my work and I intend to keep them waiting til year 3000, LOL
The reason why I prefer natural hones is - well I live with rocks of all sorts since my brother started collecting them in 1970, heard him bragging, saw him sorting and categorizing them, studying them really... it might have been contageous. Not that I wouldn't be grateful for a SunTiger when the steel is hard, but for the higher grits I don't need man made stuff when there are god given gifts like Eschers.
Too bad I can't compare it with a new Thuringian.
Yet have to get me one.

Originally Posted by Sirshavesalot

It isn't that I don't enjoy bringing out an edge on a razor, and I definately love restoring a razor to shave condition. I just cannot see spending an amount like $300 for a stone, that a $10 peice of lapping film can do. I know most everyone will respond that edge off that $300 hone is just fabulous. However, I think like 99% of us eventually take that same edge wether it came off $10 lapping film or a $300 hone, and strop it with CrOx and then leather. To me what's the difference when the end is relatively simialr if your polishing it on the same finishing material. I just also would rather spend that same $300 on a few choice blades or some creams, strops, and brushes. I know everyone likes something different but to me the shave is the best part. I wouldn't be doing this whole shaving thing with DE's or straights if it didn't make me happy to shave with this antique stuff. I could always go back to some cheesy Mach 3 and start sharpening knives and meet you guys halfway lol j/k

cheers
D

It is all about what you choose to collect. If you collect hones, trains, games, action figure or what have you.