Thread: Zulu discrepancy

I am guessing here, but it could be glazed or polished a little there. I am not really experienced with the Zulu but I am with other hard hones. When a really hard hone get super polished it get feeling kind of sticky because of surface tensions. The solution is to lap it so it isn't quite so polished. Lap it and give it a whirl. If it is still giving you a bad time then send Mike a picture and ask him his opinion.

Grid was def clearing before. Tonight I went to town on it with 80 grit. Went over it with a junk razor and certainly feels better but I won't know until tom when I try legit.

It is unlikely that it will put a nice finish on a razor at an 80 grit lap. You should get that a little smoother before finishing on it. Perhaps north of 600

Originally Posted by RezDog

It is unlikely that it will put a nice finish on a razor at an 80 grit lap. You should get that a little smoother before finishing on it. Perhaps north of 600

Agree! Double O

I have one with small inclusions that are very hard to see. When honing it feels like a bit of grit is tumbling to and fro on the surface,

I suspected the edges fist, so I well-rounded rather than arrised them - it was not the edges. So I lapped it with my atomas again and all seemed well - until another 'scratchy' sensation became apparent.

I continued using it like this, lapping it very often, but could never stop the unpleasant scratchy feeling, so I never use it now unless I feel somewhat masochismic.

It is a very slow hone, somewhat metal specific, and for me the cons far outweighed the pros, I'm afraid.

Regards,
Neil

I wasn't going to stop at 80. Just trying to speed up the lapping process. Talked to Mike an he was a great even offering to send a new hone if I don't get this fixed.

Unfortunately the nature of naturals is sort of like the proverbial box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. Kudos to Mike for offering a replacement for a resold hone. That is customer service at its best.

Yeah I'm debating starting a thread to praise his service. Basically he said his reputation and that of his hone are so important he wants everyone with a Zulu happy. Great company and would totally recommend to everyone.

Andrew, did you receive my PM from last night? Please get in touch with me before taking Michael up on his tremendous offer-he certainly is a gentleman. Thanks!

I have one of the first Zulus. It has both dark spots and areas of glassy looking surface. I use it and have had no trouble with scrapes nor scratches outside the normal honing pattern. I have lapped it to 1200 and then back to the recommended 400 grit.
What does yours do with its use on a razor that you can accept some damage?? A loupe would be necessary to find any exceptions to a normal pattern.
They are nice hones.
Someone else may have the answer for yours
~Richard
Bye the Bye, they will give a stuttering stroke if used with less than a very wet slurry or water. enough water and they hone well. That stick / slip is normal for a hard hone and a very smooth bevel.