Thread: Zulu grey

I do 4 laps of .5 micro diamond spray on felt after the Zulu. I feel it smooths the edge out just a touch, without losing that crisp/keen edge feeing. Of course, I still enjoy a shave right off the stone. At this point its more of a personal preference.

For the Zulu owners out there -- how would you compare the Zulu to a Chinese 12k? I've been using a Chinese 12k as a finishing stone for awhile with good results, but I have thinking about moving up to something else that is not crazy pricy (e.g., a Zulu, "Welsh Thurigian", or Arkansas translucent).

Unlike a lot of Zuluites, I never dilute to water. I tried to do that, which works beautifully on my little Escher but on the Zulu it became grabby and cantankerous with water only. It has been said better, but using a natural is a relationship, a commitment to stone and steel. My synthetic hones are excellent workhorses. The naturals are thoroughbreds and I believe the possibilities are ethereal and require a sensitivity that the synthetic hones do not. I'm not putting down the synthetic hones.

Wow what responses!!! I think I may have stepped out of my league here a bit. I guess I need to stay with the basics for a bit before I move on. Again thank you everyone for you very thorough responses!!!

Originally Posted by Ludvig

... There are a few threads about the ZG you can read...

here are some:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/searc...archid=2418112

Originally Posted by Bordee

For the Zulu owners out there -- how would you compare the Zulu to a Chinese 12k?...

keep reading. there is no such thing.

PHIG is a good accurate label we've been trying to hang on those rocks.

Peoples Hone of Indeterminate Grit

According to what I read the experts say, natural hones should never be labeled with specific grits as synthetics, quite accurately, are.

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Give it a few months yet as many orders are being filled and Zulus will have a LOT more voices very soon. I have one coming, and have in mind to try to use it with nagura as one does the Jnats, until of course I get a Jnat. I expect it to give me a keener edge than the coticule, whether I'll paste it or not is the first Q.

I like my Zulu more than my C12K/PHIG. From what I have heard, there is a LOT of variation in the C12K out there.

Originally Posted by MattCB

I like my Zulu more than my C12K/PHIG. From what I have heard, there is a LOT of variation in the C12K out there.

IIRC Glen said he went through 4 of them to find a keeper. Of course his tastes are more refined than many of us'ns.

Originally Posted by MattCB

I like my Zulu more than my C12K/PHIG. From what I have heard, there is a LOT of variation in the C12K out there.

You guys are correct to point out that it is hard to put a grit rating on a Chinese (as well as other naturals) due to possible large variations. I have no real idea if my Chinese PHIG hits a 12k grit, but my PHIG certainly enhances the edge off of a Norton 8k.

Along these lines, are Zulus known to be consistent (i.e., not having to buy 4 to get one good one?)

You can buy 4 PHIG's for a hundred USD, why not try out four?

Have heard/read nothing about inconsistencies with ZG's. I suspect they get roughly 10x the QC than any PHIG.

One of the things about the ZG is they are all hand cut and hand lapped. Being a bit of a rock hound I can tell you for sure that if your eyes are open you can see a lot in the hones as they take shape and there is plenty of opportunity to cull your product. I think the ZG is definitely a quality product, and with all else in the market you have to pay for that.