Thread: Apache Black Gila

Nelson's edges are my benchmark. I also send a lot of stuff his way to test since we are both in the city. It's a huge help sometimes. Did anyone here buy that last one that was available? It sold so I am curious. I think it came from the same mother stone as mine and cris', so it should be something to look forward to.

Originally Posted by kcb5150

The thing I took issue with on mine was the inclusion to bulk material transition zone. It really annoyed me to be able to feel it even though it was doing no harm seemingly so I went out of my way to delete it to a spot where there was a homogenous feel. Can you feel this on yours?

Attachment 217000

I have them and can just barely feel them...yes. It doesn't bother me all that much though.

I shaved directly off the stone this morning with two very different razors. Part of the shave was with a Kikuboshi 24 western kamisori, and the other was with a KROPP full hollow. Both provided EXCELLENT results! The Kiku was slightly better in regards to feel...but the outstanding thing to me was that this is the first really comfortable shave I've had with a full hollow, ever.

Usually when you cut rock you use a lapidary saw which is always a diamond blade which is smooth with slots where the diamonds are placed. usually it has a gravity feed otherwise you would destroy the diamonds. Years ago we used a combination of kerosene and motor oil as the lube-coolant on the saw. The cutting site is continually bathed in the coolant. They have trim saws without the gravity feed but you have to be very careful feeding it.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Usually when you cut rock you use a lapidary saw which is always a diamond blade which is smooth with slots where the diamonds are placed. usually it has a gravity feed otherwise you would destroy the diamonds. Years ago we used a combination of kerosene and motor oil as the lube-coolant on the saw. The cutting site is continually bathed in the coolant. They have trim saws without the gravity feed but you have to be very careful feeding it.

I believe Terry uses mineral oil for his cutting setup...but otherwise it's the same idea. He has a video of cutting strata on his youtube page if I recall.

On the topic of the stone, I've decided to chase those pits out with a diamond bit on a dremel. I don't like seeing all of that grit so close, and I had a blade skip on something today (I don't think it was grit from the stone...more likely stray grit from the SiC slop bucket next to my honing station...but still) so I want to eliminate it COMPLETELY as a possibility. It didn't damage the edge at all, but I think we all know how that feels lol. Like nails on a chalk board. I'd rather know for certain I was to blame, rather than have the slightest doubt in the stone.

So, I had a chance last night to go ahead and do some honing with the Apache stones.



This video wasn't meant in any way as a response to Keith or Derrik's recent commentary on the Black Gila either. It's intent is simply to give you guys some sense of what honing on them is like...mostly audibly of course. The main reason I made it though, is to show the results of the recent reconditioning on both sides of my Black Gila. I just tossed the Red and Strata in there to fill the gap since they're 'family' and more familiar than the Gila for some of you.