Thread: Zulu grey

So this is a question to you guys who have used zulus. Are they worth it? Where would they go in the honing process?

They are nice if you want a large natural that doesn't cost $500. Mine is very fine and very hard. I use it by generating slurry on a DMT with the nagura, then washing the slurry on to the main stone.

I believe there is a long thread elsewhere on the Zulu stones. I have one, and use mine strictly as a finish stone. Its faster with the slurry, but I prefer without, and just taking my time. It seems to perform really well on American steel.

I have one and I use it for refreshing and as a final in the full honing process. I like it very much.

Zulu stones are for finishing only. Very hard stone, but I really like the crisp edge it gives.

Originally Posted by lz6

I have one and I use it for refreshing and as a final in the full honing process. I like it very much.

Ditto. I've been using it, with water only, to follow a Naniwa 12K. For touch-ups, it also works well
with the slurry generated by a DMT 325, which is gradually diluted to clear water.

As others already have said it is a finishing stone. There are a few threads about the ZG you can read.
I got interested in knowing what you think about using something after the Zulu, like Crox, or is the edge better straight from the Zulu?

I use my ZG for finishing and don't go to crox or diamond spray after. I like the feel I get from the edge right off the Zulu. For the money, I think it's a great stone.

Basically there are not a lot of current production finishing hones. There is the ZG and a few slates from the UK and the Chinese 12K stone. Everything else tends to get very pricey. Finish hones are a personal preference most of the time. Everyone is always chasing the perfect edge. If you are thinking about getting one perhaps an economically way of helping you decide is to get a pro honed blade finished on the ZG. Unless of course you are a HAD afflicted in which case I don't know why you haven't just ordered one.

For me it fits in after the 12K Naniwa for the final touch. I suppose it could also be used in place of the 12K Naniwa also. Works for a light refresh too.

Bob