Good day for the mail

Woohoo! I came home from work to find not one, but two packages waiting. Came from opposite sides of the world, but both originated in China.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/IMG_1681.jpg

The Gold Dollar 208 came from Mr. Parko, per forum recommendations. (Sorry Jay, your website finally went live ONE DAY after I decided to pull the trigger. I will definitely pick up one of yours soon.) It's a far cry from the SRD Dovo Ebony, or the Heljestrand, but at that price point, I just couldn't resist. After I hone it, I'll turn it over to my 15-year-old. May have to do something about those scales, though...

The hone is a Chinese 12k from the 'Bay, and should make a decent compliment to my Japan stones. It came chamfered and lapped, and had a slurry stone with it. Nice!

Fred

Nice to have packages waiting when you get home. If the razor came shave ready that is great. If not you might want to let a pro mess with it before you take it to your new 12k. One way or the other enjoy your new acquisitions. :tu

Good feedback. It's definitely not shave-ready. However, Chieftain very generously gave me a honing lesson (he uses a coticule - very cool!) and I'm feeling a bit more confident. (I re-set the bevel on my Heljestrand, which turned out to have a small chip in the edge, and it's much more comfortable.) I figure the worst that will happen is I'll have to have a pro correct it. In the best case, it might actually be usable!

My Japan stone is 1k/6k. The 12k is kind of a jump, but I think it will be okay.

Fred