Thread: Apache natural hone

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

very happy that your having success.. just curious the main objective i believe nelson was looking for in this stone was to find a natural finisher that provided a great edge with lil effort and only water.. have u tried water only?

not just water…yet. A very light slurry initially, then dilute. finished with just water.

I took my little rock for a test drive this afternoon. It was a bit high in the center when it arrived. But after a good lapping I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of the shave.

I honed two more razors: Two C-Mons— both 5/8s using the Apache. I used the same progression I normally use (Chosera 1k, norton 4/8k) but used the Apache as the finisher. Water only, no slurry as I had done with previous honings. 30 laps & x-strokes (total). a half-dozen laps on a ChromOx bench strop; 50 linen/100 leather.
The Results? A VERY sticky edge (TPT); popping arm hairs across the entire edge. I shaved with one of the C-Mons (the one pictured below) and found the edge to be velvety smooth. So far I've been getting very satisfying results with this Apache stone. I dont see it replacing my escher anytime soon, but it has provided some very nice results.

Nice stone, very nice edges and easy to use.

These look nice, and the price seems reasonable ... But, for my good self to buy one at this stage of the game, it would need to be capable of outperforming my Eschers, La Veinnette's and old Salm coticules, and JNats. I don't really see that happening, but, curiosity may someday get the better of me!

You dont know it won't out perform. Until you give it a try.

This Apache showed up in the mail Friday. Tried two razors so far, first one was a Dorko with slurry from Linde A powder. The shave was acceptable but not top notch. Second razor was a Boker Edelweiss with slurry from a Dmt 325. Shave was again acceptable but not top notch. According to the above posts, I need to finish with plain water to get that top notch edge. I will find out shortly.........

I tried mine out last night and it shaved well, but I don't think it will outperform the high-end stones. I finished on plain water and got a pretty good shave, but I wouldn't call it amazing. I think my trans black Ark is much (well, a bit, not much) better, but a smidge slower. Of course that is after much experimentation with the Ark - and this stone just on plain water. Perhaps after some further experimentation with the Apache I will find some improvements there also.

I'm of the opinion that if you finish up on a pasted strop then that's what your edge is. Jmho. If it can't give it a smooth keen edge without paste then can it improve over an 8k ?
For me personally it has to improve on my naniwa 12k in some way without any pastes or sprays. Of course everybody is different and there's more than one way to cook a cat and Ymmv Yada Yada yada... now back to sipping my crown lol

Yes, forgot to mention, my shave was only stropped on plain nylon web and leather after honing.