Thread: Just picked up a Thuri!

I just picked up a thuri and tried it out on my hone testing razor. I've seen a ton of photos of these hones, put was still completely surprised at how small it actually was upon seeing it and holding it in person. I have only been using Norton 1,4 and 8k's with a Shapton GS16k for a finisher. Then I usually do about 5 to 10 laps on chrome Ox to mellow out the slight harshness of the synthetics (works for my face).

I took the pictured dovo that I had just recently finished up to the 16k and gave it a spin on the thuri for about 50 laps on water only (definitely had to take my time going from a 3" hone to a 1"). Did 25/50 laps on SRD premium strop and gave it a test shave without chrome ox. I think I'm going to give it another 15-20 laps on the thuri, but I'm really digging the edge off this natural stone so far!

Anyone else use one of these stones in a similar honing set up? Would be interested in your progression/number of strokes on thuri/use slurry or water only etc...

JC

Awesome!! I recently got an Escher and noticed that is was much different from honing on a big hone to such a narrow stone too. It will take some getting used to and my honing is still improving so I have yet to master these mystical stones. I do look forward to the future for when I achieve edges like the pros! Nice find!

I use mine with a slurry in the beginning and then dilute it down as I go so when I'm ending I have a very dilute slurry. I know some people say only water, others will say only slurry, some say both. The only thing that matters is that you find what works for you! I'm still trying to figure out what works the best for me, but this is what I do currently. Maybe some of the honemeisters can chime in on this?

From the look of the box I have 2 of the same hones. If you use on a hard surface so it doesn't rock and use a heel forward stroke or a swooshing stroke it makes it easier(for me anyhow). I have used with just water but does take longer. Have also used with slurry diluting then just water and does work well. Best advice is to try it on a few razors and use different methods and see what works for that hone and for you. Have fun. Ed

just out of curiosity, what do you find that it does to the edge when using a natural stone? is it more about achieving that buttery smooth, comfortable shave than it is about achieving the sharpest possible edge? if so i might be interested because for me i find that i can't comfortably shave off any stone I've tried....the razor gets amazingly sharp, just but a smooth shave though....so i use CrOx/FeOx balsa strop to achieve a really comfortable, smooth shave after taking it to about the 12k level on stones...

would anyone recommend a good, natural finishing stone that will help get that smooth buttery edge I've been looking for?

thanks everyone!

edit: I've only every tried synthetic stones like Norton 4k/8k and Naniwa SS 12k

You can get a pretty smooth edge off of the nani 12k but escher/thuri or coticule are generally the naturals used. Or if you can understand them jnats.

Hi JC, I have 3 stones like that, dark blue, medium grey and light grey (all turis), bought them all as a set on E-Bay. It took me several tries to get a good shave, now the light grey is my favorite natural stone. The thing with the size is getting used to the strokes. There is not much spine touching the stone to stabilize the stroke. Gsixgun has a video that shows a good way to hold the stone in the hand that helps to stabilize the stroke on the other hand, it's what I use (will look for it later).

I use the turi after my 1k Chossera, 4,8 & 16k Shapton glass progression. Once the edge is 16k sharp, I go to the 1" turi. I use a small x stroke (1"or so) that I start from the toe and move with overlapping areas till I get to the heel. I repeat several times and maybe throw a pig style stroke. I have experimented with overlapping circles (light, light pressure) and overlapping up and down strokes and full heel to toe x strokes. I think they all work, however for me, I get more consistent results with the small overlapping strokes.

I have used with sluty and water only. Find best to try water only first and if it doesn't get buttery smooth, try a very light slury. I find if slury is too thick, it will loose some of the 16k Shapton sharpness. Having said that, you can gain it if you are patient and dilute slowly as you go until water only.

If you messed up bad with a stroke (spine goes off stone and edge gets a lot of pressure on one part) and damage the edge, I find going to the 4k (then 8,16k) progression would fix it. Before you go there, try some more (well perform strokes on the turi before you give up and go the the 4k. I have found sometimes (when pressure wasn't bad on the edge) that this can bring the edge back. Like I said, it's practice (different than with the big 3" stones), but once you get it, it is fun and not hard to learn (I did)!

I also find that with a 1" stone, you can work on a part of the edge that is behind sharpness. It's a slower stone (compare to the 2"), but with great control along the edge. Hope this helps you! Double O

Found it! Just like this but without the lather.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/tP-GUeN_yBs?feature=oembed