Thread: Zulu grey...first hone

Is the Swaty glazed? I read barber's hones need their surfaces occassionally lapped, because a glazed, mirror smooth surface does little or nothing to the edge.

As for the Zulu, play around, it's the best way to get to know it

Originally Posted by Laurens

Or give the top and bottom a different finish, saves changing it!

I went ahead and did this and it took quit a while to lap straight (20 min) the unused side. Maybe I thank you later! LOL! Then I went and finish the side like Micheal recommends with the 1500 grit sand paper on a dry stone.

Edit: this next quote is from MichealC, not from Laurens (iPad multiple quote error)

Originally Posted by MichaelC

If you are not going to need slurry or if you simply want to use the Zulu Grey as a true finisher with only water etc. Then you can also thoroughly dry the hone and use a small square of 1500 grit wet/dry paper (use it completely dry) to essentially polish the hone surface back to what it was when received. The hone is so hard that with a square of 1500 grit paper you practically aren't changing the flatness of the hone at all - just keep the polishing action light and consistent across the surface. This will give a nice mirror surface good for final finishing with light strokes using water only. I also like to use the hone dry for a few very light x-strokes just prior to clean stropping.

Cheers,
- Mike

I used it after relaping with the 1200 Atoma then dressing the Zulu with a 3k grit stone follow by the turi, let dry and sand with the 1500 paper. Maybe an overkill. The surface is a little smoother than the other side, only noticeable when wet (how the water makes the surface look) or dry only by doing the tongue test on the dry stone, you can feel the smoothness, but just slightly smoother (yes, I have become intimate with the Zulu), but is not noticeable by the touch or by the look on a dry stone. Maybe now I need to roughen the other side more (only take it to the 400 Atoma) and use the slury on that side. Something to experiment now!

Any way, I took the razor I did before on my regular routine and went back to the newly polished side (thank you Laurence) and shaved.

This razor was shaving good after the 8k Shapton glass and CrOx. It was a smooth 3 pass razor for a DFS. The razor was shaving better after my first honing with the Zulu. My progression from an 8k edge has been to raise a slury with the Atoma 1200 (milk white but not pasty), diluting and checking every 20 or so strokes for sharpness (leg/arm hair test) finishing with almost water but not 100% clear. My regular progression for best results, is to come off the 16k Shapton glass then go to the Zulu with a slight turi slury for finishing. However, after the Zulu progression. With its own slury, I shaved twice with it, first without paste, then with paste (CrOx only, no CBN on this one). The shave was smooth on the first and a little smoother on the second with good sharpness to make it a two pass razor + touchups for a complete BBS and hardly any alum burn.

Went back to the new polished side and water only for another 60-70 laps. The shaved improved in sharpness and the smoothness was comparable with the first attempted with CrOx, but without the CrOx. So it did something, don't know if it was for the extra laps or the new surface. I think a little of both. If the surface would have been as before (1200 Atoma then dressed with a turi), I think it would only improved in sharpness for the extra laps, but not for smoothness, or maybe it was the increase sharpness that made it smoother. Hard to say. The shave was two pass + touchups for complete BBS. The only difference was the touchup patches where smaller than on the two shaves before (that's how I know it was sharper).

Next shave would be with same razor after CrOx paste (5-6 pases).

Either way I'm going to keep both surface and use it as such from now on (can't waste the 20min. of lapping!)

Aaron (wxman2000), as you start with your honing, there are going to be lots of variables that can affect you honing, from too much pressure to uneven pressure along the edge, condition of the edge, thickness of slury, dilution of slury and stokes, stone preparation, steel of the razor. The only thing that is going to improve your honing is practice with observation. This is the best advice I can give you and don't be afraid to experiment (another good advice I was given by Jimmy Had). We all give you advice but ultimately is you doing the honing and you have to see for yourself what's working and what's not. Honing is like fishing. You can read about it and learn, but until you do it, it's the only way you going to find out what works for you and what's not. And the more you do it, the more successful you be at it! It's good to talk and interchange ideas for you to experiment with. Let us know of your progress, failures and success! We love to read and learn from each other. Double O

I'm enjoying reading all of this and it's getting me excited about the new endeavor. Unfortunately, I'm still awaiting the hone! In the meantime, reading all of this is definitely getting me better prepared on what the stone is capable of.

And for the rest of the story! I went back to the a dry stone and did 6 stokes on the newly sanded/polished side, follow by 6 passes on the CrOx raw leather paddle.

WOW! WOW! WOW! This is what was needed to make this razor one of my top 10 shavers and definitely the best example of an edge finished on Zulu Grey I have at the moment! The lowly 5/8 Torry gave the best shave it ever has.

I'm glad this threat renew my love for this stone and made me discover a new way to extract the last of her potential! Also it proved me that you don't need a 16k to get a good edge with the ZG, although it makes it easier. Thanks! Double O

I'm starting to get this dreaded feeling that I'm getting obsessed with honing though I haven't even gotten my Zulu yet. I'm afraid that after it arrives, I'll be wanting a whole setup and my bank account is losing sleep over that!

Originally Posted by Wxman2000

I'm starting to get this dreaded feeling that I'm getting obsessed with honing though I haven't even gotten my Zulu yet. I'm afraid that after it arrives, I'll be wanting a whole setup and my bank account is losing sleep over that!

You wouldn't be the first. I checked my expenses and found I have spent much more on hones than on anything else, except, perhaps, restoration stuff.

Ahh dangit. Talked to Mike, my rock is still in Africa.

Now i'm thinkin' about trying a PHIG or WHIG for time killin'. We all know i'll have some of each before this is over.

It states on the web site 3 weeks (give or take). With the amount sold I would say longer should be expected. Remember they have to hike across the tundra to the quarry where the stone is cut out of the ground. Bring them all back stacked on their heads. Cut them in to sizes and polish. Wrap and then back on their heads to the nearest town which is not that close. All this with lions and tigers running around. :<0) Be patient I am sure they are going as fast as they can.

As I stated in a prior post, somewhere, I borrowed a Zulu from DoubleO for a few months, the stone is worth waiting for.
I ordered an 8x3 the day Michael did the discount. Fortunately , I have plenty of other hones to keep me busy till it gets here.

I'm still impatiently awaiting mine as well...it adds to the excitement though!