Thread: Dragons tongue(8-10K) and purple llyn melynllyn(12k)

Hello to All,

I bought the 3-Stone 'AJ' set.

The Purple LM is the hardest of my three stones, and is the best performer (for me). When I use it, I start on light slurry, and finish on very, very wispy slurry, ending with some spine leading strokes.

The finish and shave off the Purple LM is not bad at all, though I still prefer the edge from my Naniwa 12k SS.

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by PhatMan

Hello to All,

I bought the 3-Stone 'AJ' set.

The Purple LM is the hardest of my three stones, and is the best performer (for me). When I use it, I start on light slurry, and finish on very, very wispy slurry, ending with some spine leading strokes.

The finish and shave off the Purple LM is not bad at all, though I still prefer the edge from my Naniwa 12k SS.

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

Interestingly, the unidentified slate that he sent me is a very nice hone. It actually puts a keener edge on a razor than the LM does, but I find the edge to be sightly unrefined and it doesn't match my shaving preferences. So what I do is a progression from the DT -> LM -> Unidentified slate and then go back to the LM for a few strokes on a very light slurry to tone down the edge a bit. This has resulted in edges that really are excellent to shave off.

Neil, I have to thank you, you are one of the most influential people in my hone searching with your notes and help answering my questions. And whenever I have to give an approximate grit rating on a natural, I always try to use your guidelines for determining that abstract concept of estimated grit on naturals. Truly, I'm glad you are around.

Now, about the dark grey salmen type of stone that is a finisher, do you have the time to help us with identifying that type of stone? Do you happen to have a photo or description about it?

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I must admit that I tend to agree with Vasilis.

I used to sell these hones - a lot of them, too as I had an agreement with the Inigo Jones company. I tested every one I sold. My estimate of a grit rating on the best ones was around 9k, but a lot of others fell in around the 6k to 8k mark. Whatever, I considered them as not quite a finishing hone, unless you used something like chrome oxide after honing.

The main thing was that the surface on them from the quarry, although flat, was milled a bit coarsely, so this had to be lapped off with a 325 grit diamond hone which improved the stone enormously, and a 600 grit plate made it really quite fine. The ones I used were lapped with different grits on each side. Also, you need to be somewhat adept at honing, or the edge is not what you think it would be.

As for the purple slates, I have tried a lot of old vintage ones in boxes and set in paddles, all the Salmen types (except the dark grey which is a different stone entirely and a finisher for certain) multiple times and a lot of the freshly quarried ones. I can honestly say that not one of them came anywhere near 15k. Maybe 10 0r 11k, but that is pushing it, and some of course come in below this.

In fact the person who sold them on Ebay usd to ask my advice, but then he came up with these nonsensical grit ratings. I know that some people jave used them and think that they are the bees knees, never failing to sing their praises whenever the opportunity arises. Me? - I also take the opportunity whenever I can to try and put the matter in perspective with regards to my own numerous experiences of these hones.

In the end its just a lot of peoples personal experiences combined with how they prepared the various stones, the changeable nature of natural stones, how coarse their beards are and how adept at honing they are. Too many variables to take any ones word, including mine.

Regards,
Neil

thanks for all the replys when I stared the thread I didn't think it would take off as quick

these are the hones I was looking at 200mm X 76mm Welsh SET OF 2 Sharpening Stones Knife Blade Chisel Plane | eBay

as what I read in part of the thread that not everyone has a big budget id be one of those people...
im just looking for a stone that will leave my razor good and sharp for a good shave
regards aran

I have the 3 hone set with a rubbing stone for each hone and I really like them. the stone described as 15K is gives me edges similar to my Y/G Escher. YMMV

from what I read they seem to be worth the money think ill give them a try its all in the learning

Originally Posted by madpaddy

from what I read they seem to be worth the money think ill give them a try its all in the learning

I would suggest you to get a Chinese finishing stone. Cheap and the chances to get a finisher are much much higher.

I have the 3 stone set, and I like to use them every once in a while with my british razors, just for fun. I don't like them on harder steel razors, but they work fine on most softer. Incidentially, the Llyn Mellynlyn is also known as Yellow Lake Oilstone, andis generally assessed to be around the 4k mark. I use it before the dragon's tongue. Ymmv

Originally Posted by Vasilis

I would suggest you to get a Chinese finishing stone. Cheap and the chances to get a finisher are much much higher.

I don't have one myself but IIRC there have been numerous posts about this hone, also called PHIG, Chinese 12K, and the gist of it is that their estimated grit sizes quite variable.

Originally Posted by Kees

I don't have one myself but IIRC there have been numerous posts about this hone, also called PHIG, Chinese 12K, and the gist of it is that their estimated grit sizes quite variable.

Indeed, this is the one. I have used plenty of them over the years, and strangely, all of them were excellent finishers. It might be luck, still, they are good stones, cheap, and worst case scenario it will be like a very good slate.