Thread: Zulu Grey

I did some deeper searching and that place is the only place that has the Zulu Grey and I found a YouTube video on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eroe...4jG6x5xL-Dut2A

Thanks for that. That clears up a lot. I found it interesting his comparison to Arks which, some may know I'm a fan of, and the Zulu being close to them. I do love my Ark edges. I would guess it is less slow if you can slurry it.

Yeah the one he's using is 8" long. Mine which I got from the original guy isa little over 11 1/2 " longx3" wide and 3/4" thick. His looks a lot like mine.

Originally Posted by engine46

Yeah the one he's using is 8" long. Mine which I got from the original guy isa little over 11 1/2 " longx3" wide and 3/4" thick. His looks a lot like mine.

I also have one of the "original" Zulu Gray stones. It is an excellent stone, capable of producing an edge sharper and smoother than a Naniwa 12K. I would say it is somewhere around 15K. However, all natural stones vary, so your experience might not be the same. I do have some other stones that are just as good as the Zulu Gray such as the Imperia La Roccia and the French Black Shadow.

I am not certain that the original seller is still alive. I think he was obtaining the stones from his own property. Perhaps the new seller is the new owner of the property. The photos of the stones on the web site certainly look similar.

You can slurry it... If you have a lot of time. I gave up trying to make a slurry with the rubber that came with mine.

Yeah, I wondered about that, Jerry. I have some Brazilian slate that is like that. It will slurry, but using the rubbing stone is it going to wear you out.

Originally Posted by Gasman

You can slurry it... If you have a lot of time. I gave up trying to make a slurry with the rubber that came with mine.

If it’s a true finishing stone and hard, do you really need a slurry? You’ll be doing mostly weight of the razor strokes to polish the edge left by a previous high grit stone.

I suppose you could use a fine diamond hone as a slurry stone if you really want to use slurry on it or even a high grit nagura as you would on a hard Jnat.

My Vermio is quite hard and is supposedly equivalent to 12-15K (it’s natural so who knows). I’ve tried slurry with a Vermio rubbing stone, a coticule, a diamond hone and have found that my best results are with diluted glycerin and no slurry.

So, on naturals (in particular with slates which is what I have most of besides Arks and you're not slurrying them) I use slurry to push the stone's capabilities back further. With a thick slurry I will go from 6k straight to a finisher but without I will normally go from 4k>8k>slate.

I use mine as a finisher. 15 to 20 laps wet and its done. I did try slurry using a diamond plate. Im sure it helped the jump from 8k but i just use it as a finisher any more. Just like my Arks.

The name of the game anymore is to get done quickly and move on. JMO

Originally Posted by DZEC

If it’s a true finishing stone and hard, do you really need a slurry? You’ll be doing mostly weight of the razor strokes to polish the edge left by a previous high grit stone.

I suppose you could use a fine diamond hone as a slurry stone if you really want to use slurry on it or even a high grit nagura as you would on a hard Jnat.

My Vermio is quite hard and is supposedly equivalent to 12-15K (it’s natural so who knows). I’ve tried slurry with a Vermio rubbing stone, a coticule, a diamond hone and have found that my best results are with diluted glycerin and no slurry.

Using it just as a finisher, no you don't but you have that option if you want to be adventurous or experimental. Even if I do use slurry I use it as a finisher with just water at the end.

I just like to be experimental, like trying to go from bevel set to finish with one stone for instance. You know, what most people call being a glutton for punishment.