Thread: Apache Black Gila

When you have a chance, try mixing about a quarter sized bead of glycerin into the water on the surface, or a few peas of dish soap

Originally Posted by kcb5150

When you have a chance, try mixing about a quarter sized bead of glycerin into the water on the surface, or a few peas of dish soap

I actually did that with the first ten laps (the feel was much better...slightly magnetic)...then I cleaned up and intended to take a shower, but the crappy picture of the edge was bugging me. So I did 10 more quick laps on just water. This is with razor weight pressure...and that second edge picture is what I got.

It works fine with water, but the feel is so much more with slightly propped up water. You will enjoy that stone a lot. It's from the same rock basically bookmatched to mine so I know it has a pretty great performance potential.

Originally Posted by kcb5150

It works fine with water, but the feel is so much more with slightly propped up water. You will enjoy that stone a lot. It's from the same rock basically bookmatched to mine so I know it has a pretty great performance potential.

I already am! Really nice stone...better than I was expecting to be honest. I'm still surprised at that level of refinement off of just 20 light laps.

I never thought of picking up any of his hones, mostly because I have a lot of finishers so the trade was a really cool thing to fall on my lap. It was a bit of an eye opener to be more enthusiastic about new stuff. When I first saw it, I thought of the things it reminds you of and that makes you think it will be on the slower side, but true to what I was told, it's quick to do it's thing. I have no clue what it is though. I know people in many fields but no geologists, sadly

Originally Posted by kcb5150

I never thought of picking up any of his hones, mostly because I have a lot of finishers so the trade was a really cool thing to fall on my lap. It was a bit of an eye opener to be more enthusiastic about new stuff. When I first saw it, I thought of the things it reminds you of and that makes you think it will be on the slower side, but true to what I was told, it's quick to do it's thing. I have no clue what it is though. I know people in many fields but no geologists, sadly

I actually now have the full set (Red, Strata, and Gila)...and one that isn't even released yet lol...though there are variations on the Strata that would be fun to play with (darker grey, lighter tan, multi-color...mine is somewhere in between those). I love that they come from my home state, and my home country....but are still in the top 1% of stones in some very respected people's lists.

The Gila is already my favorite of them all though...for sure.

Wow...so I have a Gold Dollar that I'd redone and honed up to what I thought was perfection on the Apache Strata. I thought I'd go ahead and work a few strokes on the Black Gila in. So I sprayed the stone, added about a pea sized dollop of glycerin, and just began very light finishing strokes with the razor. Within just a few strokes the edge had sucked down onto the stone (glycerin needed mixed a bit I assume), and I was watching a perfect wave ride up the bevel. Every 5 or so strokes though, the 'feel' of the stone changed. I don't know if I have the vocabulary to describe it, but I could absolutely tell when the stone was done working. I didn't count, but I'd' say it was on the order of 25-30 laps tops. WAY less time than I expected. The crazy part though was the amount of black I wiped off the stone with my paper towel. I mean, the water turned hazy very quickly...I just didn't realize how much swarf was actually in there.

Going to shave with it in the morning. Here's to it being an awesome one .

Post more scope pics when you have a chance.

Originally Posted by kcb5150

Post more scope pics when you have a chance.

Absolutely. I took these just now. The razor is my donation Gold Dollar I reworked. I took the bevel back to what amounts to a 6-8k surface (120 grit rough lapped Apache Red) for 50 laps, using a rounded X stroke:




Then put it on the Gila which I simply dipped in water then added a pea sized drop of glycerin to. Again, the razor leveled out on the stone quickly, the swarf came quickly, and after 30 laps per side, this was the end result:



Again, there is no way to show the actual surface finish (actually maybe there is...more on that below) without being here looking at the screen as you move the scope around. Maybe I'll try to get some video of it? I think there's a video capture mode. I'll have to take a look. Either way though, I CAN roll the scope around, and I'm pretty impressed myself. The one thing these pictures DO show accurately is the level of refinement just 30 laps gave over a pretty rough finish. Good stuff.

Oh also, I shaved with that edge this mornin...super comfortable. I tend not to like Gold Dollar shaves much regardless of the edge (the edges...no matter how sharp...seem to almost 'vibrate' or 'jump' as they cut the hairs, and it causes some irritation no matter what I do), but this shave was the most comfortable I've had off a Gold Dollar yet. Next I'm going to try it on my big 9/8, 63-64HRC W2 wedge which usually gives me very comfortable shaves off the strata.

Great to hear you got such a nice edge out of the gate, usually the first is the worst with any new rock as you learn it. Bound to get even better. I told you though, it's the real deal.