Thread: Imperia la Roccia 7 x 2-1/2 x 3/4 Natural Stone 12-15K Review

Originally Posted by Slurryer

I just picked one of these up today, and should arrive in a week or so. Is lapping this with a Norton lapping stone advisable?

Just curious if there is any update on your $0.02. I'm considering this for a cheaper alternative to a Naniwa 12k.

Originally Posted by mrmessma

Just curious if there is any update on your $0.02. I'm considering this for a cheaper alternative to a Naniwa 12k.

I've been using this stone for about a month or so, and I am extremely pleased with it! Honing with a milky slurry seems to be about equal with an 8K stone. I've been able to take a razor from a 1K straight to the ILR with slurry to clear water, and get a very very good shaving edge. However I'm not able to do that consistently from razor to razor. I chock that up to my honing inexperience, and not the hone itself. It is definitely capable of honing an edge off a 1K stone all the way to shave ready. For now I will usually do the 1K 4K 8K and then the ILR.
I have lapped it with the Norton stone with no real harm done in the end. Probably not the best thing to use, but a light lapping with the Norton will not hurt this. Again, more for the folks wagging their fingers in my general direction, using a Norton lapping stone on the ILR is not ideal, but will get the job done as long as you're not overly aggressive. 320 grit or a bit higher wet dry sand paper on a good flat smooth surface would probably work better, and will not set you back more that a few dollars. If you can get the wet dry sand paper, go that route, if lapping is needed at all.
Congratulations on the ILR purchase. It's a very good hone, even in the hands of someone with only a few months of experience. A very good purchase!

Originally Posted by Slurryer

I've been using this stone for about a month or so, and I am extremely pleased with it! Honing with a milky slurry seems to be about equal with an 8K stone. I've been able to take a razor from a 1K straight to the ILR with slurry to clear water, and get a very very good shaving edge. However I'm not able to do that consistently from razor to razor. I chock that up to my honing inexperience, and not the hone itself. It is definitely capable of honing an edge off a 1K stone all the way to shave ready. For now I will usually do the 1K 4K 8K and then the ILR.
I have lapped it with the Norton stone with no real harm done in the end. Probably not the best thing to use, but a light lapping with the Norton will not hurt this. Again, more for the folks wagging their fingers in my general direction, using a Norton lapping stone on the ILR is not ideal, but will get the job done as long as you're not overly aggressive. 320 grit or a bit higher wet dry sand paper on a good flat smooth surface would probably work better, and will not set you back more that a few dollars. If you can get the wet dry sand paper, go that route, if lapping is needed at all.
Congratulations on the ILR purchase. It's a very good hone, even in the hands of someone with only a few months of experience. A very good purchase!

Hi Blade Whisperer. Glad to see this thread is still going. You will get the consistency. Spend a little extra time on the visual at the end of the 1k. Don't let yourself think that 50 of this on this blade will be the same for that blade. Different shapes, different hardness, and different width of bevel. If your getting from 1K to 8K, you're ahead of most.
Cheers,

Originally Posted by bigeasy1

Hi Blade Whisperer. Glad to see this thread is still going. You will get the consistency. Spend a little extra time on the visual at the end of the 1k. Don't let yourself think that 50 of this on this blade will be the same for that blade. Different shapes, different hardness, and different width of bevel. If your getting from 1K to 8K, you're ahead of most.
Cheers,

That's a signature with a story indeed!
50 passes on this blade doesn't equate the same on that blade... Good food for thought, and might explain some of of what I'm observing.Still haven't gotten much testing experience, mostly because of the time it seems to take get a feel for things. But I'm running out of hairs on my left hand. So I'm either going to invest in some Acme Hair Tonic, or get a better method of testing.

Thanks for the advice Brother
Viva La Razor!

Originally Posted by Slurryer

That's a signature with a story indeed!
50 passes on this blade doesn't equate the same on that blade... Good food for thought, and might explain some of of what I'm observing.Still haven't gotten much testing experience, mostly because of the time it seems to take get a feel for things. But I'm running out of hairs on my left hand. So I'm either going to invest in some Acme Hair Tonic, or get a better method of testing.

Thanks for the advice Brother
Viva La Razor!

Been a while. Any follow up?
Best regards,

Originally Posted by bigeasy1

Been a while. Any follow up?
Best regards,

Perhaps, being the vendor, you should finally provide the details on the provenance of the hones that people have been asking about.

Seriously, ..... Glad I read this thread now as was kinda considering trying this stone.. (duno why really as I have plenty proven finishers at my disposal) but I too would really like to know the true origin of this stone,, or I would feel a bit 'mugged' regardless of the price..
Is this another case of 'made in China' being passed off as made in 'Italy' this time?
Shame if it is, coz I would have actually purchased the stone regardless of it coming from China, as the price is very reasonable for a finisher compared to the proven stones of pedigree,,, but to be deceived over the origin of said item of interest does put me off purchasing big time!

I tested one of these for several weeks, and it was able to provide a very keen edge but it wasn't the most comfortable according to my face at least. For me, not on the same level as a good Thuri or JNat. It gives a plenty keen enough edge for a WTG shave, but the comfort wasn't there on ATG passes. The best edges I got were finishing on light slurry a la JNat and alternatively with the stone super smoothed like an Ark. I have about 30 natural finishing stones and a few of the better synthetic finishers to compare with.

Originally Posted by ToolFiendG

Seriously, ..... Glad I read this thread now as was kinda considering trying this stone.. (duno why really as I have plenty proven finishers at my disposal) but I too would really like to know the true origin of this stone,, or I would feel a bit 'mugged' regardless of the price..
Is this another case of 'made in China' being passed off as made in 'Italy' this time?
Shame if it is, coz I would have actually purchased the stone regardless of it coming from China, as the price is very reasonable for a finisher compared to the proven stones of pedigree,,, but to be deceived over the origin of said item of interest does put me off purchasing big time!

Oh, I seem to recognize a lot of names for the likes above, and the added comment below.
It has never been our intention to deceive anyone. There was a mention very early of Imperia Italy. This is not the case. China is also not the case. Excuse me, but perhaps all of you would like to give me your sources for all of the items you sell?
If any of you believe it to be deceitful to withhold the origin of the stone, so be it. We consider that information to be trade secret. We do consider it deceitful to purchase a stone on ebay, without questions, and then cancel the order after using your purchase as leverage to get an answer to this question. The offender is here, but I expect others had a grand laugh over it as well.

Mr. Kretz test is on another major forum. For anyone who wishes to look, the very first pic, on the very first post, is of a blade so covered with pitting that the dark round spots extending into the bevel are very obvious. I would have no doubt that he would not be able to get a shaveable edge from any stone. especially if he does not know what is considered the proper way to use a slurrying slate stone.
Have a grand evening,

Originally Posted by bigeasy1

Oh, I seem to recognize a lot of names for the likes above, and the added comment below.
It has never been our intention to deceive anyone. There was a mention very early of Imperia Italy. This is not the case. China is also not the case. Excuse me, but perhaps all of you would like to give me your sources for all of the items you sell?

So this time a well appreciated Thanks for this statement....probably a step to get some plus point...