Thread: Zulu grey...first hone

I hate to bring back an old thread, but thought I'd put a little update since I started this about a year ago now. After all this time, I finally affixed the label to the back of my Zulu that I wanted to do many months ago. Ended up spraying a couple coats of matte Krylon on the back, stuck the sticker, then a few more coats over the top. Turned out nice.



As far as using the stone though, I still don't feel like I've made a lot of progress. Since getting into honing about a year ago with a Zulu and a coticule, I feel that I've progressed fairly well with the cot. I've been able to maintain my 8 razors with that over the past year without needing to send out for a honing! My edges aren't nearly as good as when I sent them out, but they're fairly comfortable and give a good quality shave.

As far as the Zulu goes, sometimes I'll stop a razor with the coticule, and other times I'll break out the Zulu to finish on that. With all the times I've used it (maybe a dozen or a bit more), I still don't see where it has made any bit of difference. I've tried water only, light slurry, thicker slurry, etc. But in all the times, I can't really seem to notice any difference than if I just shaved straight from the coticule. Not sure where my problem lies with this mysterious stone named Zulu Grey...

I'm not giving up on it though, I'll keep trying it out and hoping for some sort of change, but after a year, it's been mostly frustration... any ideas on what I may/may not be doing wrong with the Zulu?

I like the label & thanks for the way you attached it. I might try it, as I have 2 labels.

I have never slurried the Zulu, no need to. It's a high stroke finisher. I have gotten different results from different steel. This may be part of your situation. Light wet surface, razor weight only, high stroke count 60+

Sometimes she likes to be chased,,, she's high maintenance AFAIC.

Idk what to say about that. But I use mine as a finisher after my naniwa 12k and it stays as sharp and maybe even a touch sharper. IMHO it improves it by making it more face friendly,kind of like crox does . I tried crox tonight after using the zulu tonight. Gonna be a couple days before I can try that blade out as I just shaved this am. I use water only on mine and sometimes a drop of dawn dish soap.

@ wxman - I haven't attached my label, but that looks good.

As far as progress on the ZG -
I've used this setup
I use the 12k Naniwa then the ZG with Dawn dish soap at about 100 strokes, cRox 15 strokes - I just started using Dawn and I like the feel while honing, can't say if it's improved anything to any great extent, but it's better than coming off the 12k Naniwa as I think that produces a very keen but harsh edge...and the bevel is highly polished
Technically I think you should be able to go from the Coti to the ZG just may take a bit more work?

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I have never slurried the Zulu, no need to. It's a high stroke finisher. I have gotten different results from different steel. This may be part of your situation. Light wet surface, razor weight only, high stroke count 60+.

Are you using the ZG after an 8K or a 12K Nan or some other player to be named later?
Thanks - great thread.

I have always jumped from an 8K , straight to the finisher. Nothing between an 8k & the finisher. I don't use pastes, so the finisher is the last stone,, then the strop.

I'm trying to stay away from the crox myself but with this particular razor I killed the edge trying to use a new stone and since this is a new razor supposedly shave ready i wanted this as keen as possible until it gets to dragging then I will just touch it up with the zulu and forgo the paste.

If you are using tape on the spine always put on a fresh piece. YMMV

Dave

Thanks for the advice. I've always used tape with mine when doing them, and yes, always add fresh tape when moving over to the Zulu. I had read that it would take many laps and with my razors, I've tried everywhere from 50 up to about 200...though again, nothing that I could notice being different from the coticule edge. I have a varied set of razors, mostly German steel, a couple Sheffield, and a couple unknown... so there's a good variety of razors I've tried out with it.

I've got a Ralf Aust that I will be trying on it later today... it's fresh off the cot, and I'm planning to go to the Zulu water only. Hopefully this time some magic happens.

Ended up not doing the Ralf Aust today, but a basic Dovo Best Quality instead. It had been pulling quite a bit lately and I avoided using it, so I figured I'd give it a run through.

First dulled it lightly on a glass, then used the Unicom method on the coticule (minus the taping), then proceeded to the Zulu. Prior to going to the Zulu, I looked at it under magnification and found it had a very nice edge from the coticule.

Once over to the Zulu, I went ahead with water only for who knows how many laps... lost count around 75. I'm guessing somewhere right around 150'ish before finishing up. Gave it a nice stropping and I'll give it a shot in the morning. Here's hoping to a great shave!