Thread: Escher Skills Update

Hi,
I received my Thuringian/Escher/Who knows what it its hone, today.
50 Squids (quids/pounds) off ebay.
If you remember i was trying to mimic the finish on a razor i had sharpened by Hart Steel.
So i took my 2 "Not a Replica " blades. They was already honed, so i took them back to the 8k shapton and then onto the 16k shapton.
I then finished one on the Crox spray/felt and did the other on my new/old Thuringian.
The crox blade was sharp but harsh. I never use Crox, i normally just hit 30k Shapton.
The other blade finished on the Thuringian.
Thats what i was looking for, very smooth indeed
Not too distant from the 30k then optical powder finish but definitely smoother.
I'm very pleased and cant wait for my hair to grow back, i have more experiments to perform :/
I'm gonna have to get a big Escher down the line or maybe look into jap stones a bit more.
Thanks.

Nice, good to hear! But I'm puzzled you get such bad results when using crox. How many strokes do you use?

Originally Posted by Laurens

Nice, good to hear! But I'm puzzled you get such bad results when using crox. How many strokes do you use?

I did 5 laps of crox followed by 50 linen + 100 Leather.
It was very sharp but missed the smoothness i got from the natural stone

I found the Escher to work nicely, but have since graduated to a Gokumyo 20K which seems to work even better for me and is a much larger stone.

I've never used CrOx. Perhaps it is just my prejudice, but I feel it almost anti-thetical to the theory of honing, honing "backwards" as it is. But that's just my opinion, and there are plenty of people who find it helpful I guess.

Since getting the Gokumyo, I've discontinued usage of the Escher as well as my 16K and 30K Shaptons. I go from a Naniwa SS 12K to the Gokumyo.

Originally Posted by JOB15

I did 5 laps of crox followed by 50 linen + 100 Leather.
It was very sharp but missed the smoothness i got from the natural stone

Perhaps another 5 or 10 can solve it. On the other hand, I agree with ace, honing on stones simply feels better than on pastes.

Originally Posted by ace

I found the Escher to work nicely, but have since graduated to a Gokumyo 20K which seems to work even better for me and is a much larger stone.

I've never used CrOx. Perhaps it is just my prejudice, but I feel it almost anti-thetical to the theory of honing, honing "backwards" as it is. But that's just my opinion, and there are plenty of people who find it helpful I guess.

Since getting the Gokumyo, I've discontinued usage of the Escher as well as my 16K and 30K Shaptons. I go from a Naniwa SS 12K to the Gokumyo.

Does it give a smooth shave?

Originally Posted by JOB15

Does it give a smooth shave?

It is high on my wish list, what with all the excellent reviews I read. It is said to be the best synthetic finisher, giving an edge similar to a Jnat, only easier. Read a few threads here, people are raving!

Originally Posted by Laurens

It is high on my wish list, what with all the excellent reviews I read. It is said to be the best synthetic finisher, giving an edge similar to a Jnat, only easier. Read a few threads here, people are raving!

I'm gonna buy a Gokumyo and i will sell my Shappy 30k i think.

I have the Gokumyo and it delivers the keenness you would expect from using pastes/sprays but without the harshness that can come from them if they are overused. It delivers a really, really nice edge. OTOH, you were also looking into a Jnat as well. Both deliver exceptionally good edges. My Ozuku stone and nagura stones are about the same cost as the Gokumyo. But the added benefit of the Gokumyo is that it is easier to use with smiling blades or ones that have some grind issues/warping. And both options are far more readily available.

I can't say I've gone down the rabbit hole of honing yet but I have found the entrance. I've been using a set of Naniwa superstones finishing on the 12K with great results. Pressure seems to influence the degree of polishing with all stones and certainly the 12K is no exception.

Yet I keep looking down that rabbit hole. Is there better or a best? I see this as the flavor of the month. Yea there starts a thread about how great one stone is over the others but once you get to the outstanding level is there really something better?

Over the years stones have been improved and yes there is a quantifiable difference between good, excellent and outstanding. I also do automotive car detailing and there is a rabbit hole of car waxes as well. At some point there are diminishing returns with car wax as well.

While the straight razor hobby is newer to me the level of sharpness and buttery smooth shaves are available from the Naniawa's. I must admit some blades are not as easy to achieve this level ans some will not get there. This leaves me wondering is it because of the steel used for the blade, my technique or perhaps the stone used?

Can a Gokumyo 20K stone really make that quantative improvement above outstanding and is it repeatable? I've seen these stones go for $250-500 so they are not cheap. I'm still undecided on the outside of the rabbit hole looking in just wondering if we are splitting hairs (pun intended).