Thread: natural duel stone a llyn melynllyn and dragons tongue

deadrift glad you read the whole thread there's alot of info in it !

Originally Posted by Lynn

LM so far.

Originally Posted by Leon

Wow... "one stone to rule them all"

Well, I'm impressed. I'll follow Lynn's experience. My next honing session, a set of Filarmonicas, I'll set the bevel in my Naniwa 1K, as always, and then, off to LM with a REALLY heavy slurry and some pressure and proceed with his instructions.
It will be fun to see what happens.

Well, I tried this approach in a Filarmonica 13 from a customer, dull as a butter knife. and here's what I did:
- I used the Naniwa 1k as I normally do to set the bevel
- then I picked the LM, raised a thick, heavy slurry. Did 100 laps
- Put some drops of water to dilute the slurry a bit. Did another 100 laps
- Some more drops, but the slurry was still there. Did 20-30 laps
- 30 laps linen
- 60 laps horsehide

Result: WOW. Smoothest........shave........ever

Gentlemen, we've got a winner.

I have a Purple WHIG
a Grey WHIG
and a Greenish WHIG

Seems the names the e-bay seller was using just set everyone's teeth to chattering so in the spirit on Dylan's PHIG I am just calling mine WHIG's and if you have to ask, Please, just step away from holding the sharp blade by yer throat


I think you guys that started with the hollow grind Sheffield blades were dead on BTW, while I was lapping them up I kept thinking Coticule, the smell and the feel of the slurry..

Anyway I did three razors tonight using the Chosera 1k, Naniwa 3k, then the Grey WHIG and followed by the Purple WHIG to finish.. both WHIG's were used with light slurry, and pigtail strokes, then diluting out every 5 laps to clear water ,,, My basic test for Natural waterstones...

Good positive honing tests all the way through no bumps no hiccups .. The final finish look reminded me of a Coticule too

Only one test shave tonight which was no surpise at all, nice clean smooth feel and I am not a fan of Sheffield steel...


I will try the Greenish WHIG tomorrow after a 1-4-8 run and see what happens, now back to watching "The Walking Dead"

lol Whig....yer funny!

Originally Posted by alb1981

lol Whig....yer funny!

why TY


I was reading all the threads about these poor stones, here and other places, and just stated shaking my head in amusement at how crazy this hobby of ours has become...

yes its is getting a little nuts out there!

I was looking at one of these Whigs, but I couldnt afford the shipping! lol damn near as much as the stone! May go after a surgical arkansas. Of course I may just save my money and ship a bunch of razors to someone like you who I know will put a crazy sharp edge on every time....we will see lol

I lucked out and got mine on this side of the pond from one of our members that didn't want them any longer, that tripped my trigger

g

Many thanks to all of you for the experimentation and evaluation shared in this thread.

I just started straight razor shaving last month and I quickly realized I needed a finishing hone. The finest hone I had at that time was an 4k/8k Norton. I really only used the 8k side for my tools when making/repairing violins. I couldn’t imagine ever needing something finer.

I was fortunate that you folks had completed much of your evaluation in time for me to make a decision on my first finishing hone.

So I picked up a ‘huge’ thick (7.5 x 3.5 x 1.75) purple slate (llyn melynllyn) from aj a few weeks ago. I lapped both sides with DMT 325, then slurry stone to remove scratches. I’m very happy.

To sharpen I’m using slurry to water on one side, then glycerin on the other side. My honing skills are not yet up to snuff, but I am able to get a decent shave from it.
Many thanks again. You folks saved me a lot of time and money with your research.

regards,
ken mort

ps. I asked aj his recommendations on lapping. Here’s his response:

I would use w/d paper, 80g it what I start with, then 120 then 180, that is where I stop. Slate is very dense and inert, so when polishing it , you are closing the surface right down. Yet others have told me they have taken it to 1200 and get good results. It is all down to the individual.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I lucked out and got mine on this side of the pond from one of our members that didn't want them any longer, that tripped my trigger

g

Lucky man!

With my "purple WHIG" I've discovered that if I almost use it like a Barber hone (10-20 laps) water only (maybe lather) it get very nice crisp edges, more and it starts to get harsh, at least with my stone. I'm really liking it!