What's the word on the Zulu Grey natural stones?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Printable View
What's the word on the Zulu Grey natural stones?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If you could define what you are asking about it would help to have informed responses. Such as 'Are the Available'? 'Are they a finisher'? etcQuote:
Originally Posted by Carlospppena
You are right. What i wanted to know is if they are any good (as finishers!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Like most finishers, they are as good as the individual using them.
I enjoy the edge that I get off them. Here are a few links to help give you an idea on how they perform.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...zulu-grey.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...irst-hone.html
Yes they 'CAN' be a finisher. However as with 100% of All natural rocks they can vary in how they perform. If you are wanting to learn to hone I Highly recommend that you start with synthetics such as the Norton 1K and the 4/8K combo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlospppena
If you can't get a CCC shave (Clean Close &Comfortable) shave off of a 8K synthetic then you are pouring money down a rat hole pursuing higher grit synthetic hones or Naturals such as the Zulu.
I own the Zule Grey and the SIlkvein. Very capable stones but not for a beginner only because of the high cost, if you got money to spend and want them, great. Nothing to difficult about them after a little practice and lots of patience, be warned there is about a two month wait on orders.
Like others said, start with a synthetic for low cost and consistent learning. PM me if you want some recommendations.
Will do. Thanx tons gentlemen!
I will add what Glen (GSSIXGUN) has as his signature and I find it so very true!
"No amount of money spent on a Stone can ever replace the value of the time it takes learning to use it properly"
All I will say is that if you don't have a bevel you're just polishing a dull edge.
Ok. I have nortons 1k 4k and 8k. Also a naniwa 10k. .5 spray and .25 paste.
The razors are: Boker Elite. Dovo Bismarck. Ralph Aust Imperial. TI basic. Kanetaka kamisori.
All new.
Then i bought a used Jerry Stark custom. It came in with such a smooth edge. It was finished with a ZG. So, i want one! My edges are good, but this one is noticeably superior.
I know there is a learning curve. I just think that i am ready for the next step forward.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bought a Zulu Grey last year, loved it, didn't love it, put it away for 8 months, took it out again, lapped the backside with loose grit and left it at that texture, now I can't stop using it.... great hone, great finisher/polisher and this particular stone is fast, compared to my other naturals.
Good natural hones are great, so are good synthetics. I revisited my Naniwa 12K as an experiment to see just how good an edge I can get off it now. It's really nice, not quite as nice as perhaps a couple of my favourite naturals, but plenty nice for shaving and much faster. One thing I have noticed though.... I always seem to get a synthetic hone right off the bat, naturals have this on again, off again sort of thing until I figure them out.
My advice.... When you just cannot improve on the edge from a good quality synthetic hone (with very little to no work on pasted strops), and you are starting to feel bored, that would be a good time to think about playing with naturals. They will not instantly improve your edges... they take time to learn, and if you have already figured out how to eke every last bit of sharpness/smoothness out of your synthetic, a natural can be fun to play with and you can always get a great edge off your synthetic if you are having some issues with your natural.
There is no *instant* gratification with natural hones (well... maybe with one of those thousand dollar+ Jnats), be prepared for a learning curve and possibly less than great edges... GSSixgun's tag line is accurate and true:
"No amount of money spent on a Stone can ever replace the value of the time it takes learning to use it properly"
Kaptain zero. You got me. Ordering my ZG now...
Thank you very much.
Even those will not magically hone a razor against the skill level of the honer. If the bevel is not set correctly even a 10 million dollar stone will not produce a shaving edge.Quote:
Originally Posted by kaptain_zero
Well... to be picky now.... I didn't say a $1000+ Jnat would magically hone a razor, I said it *might* bring instant gratification, which *tongue in cheek* means holding a pretty looking $1000 rock in yer hands *might* bring instant gratification, all by itself, no razor required! <grin>Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
But but but...... I thought I was trying to talk you out of it?!?!?!? :gaah:Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlospppena
Just kidding.... ZG are nice rocks at a good price.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaptain_zero
HILARIOUS...!!! Jajajaj...!!!
Btw, they are 50% off! >:-) buajajaja!!!
There would be that moment (or a few) where you look down and realize 'I paid $1000 for a @#$% ROCK!'Quote:
Originally Posted by kaptain_zero
Dear Kelbro;Quote:
Originally Posted by kelbro
We all have paid much more for a heartbreak...
And compared to other hobbies, this one is relatively cheap... compared to sailboat racing, casino gambling, art collecting and many others. And at the end of the day, we all have to shave... jeje.
So, a jnat its not expensive. It is costly, you are right. But not compared to the joy some people extract from it.
Best regards,
Pepe Peņa
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've been using mine now for just about a year. Absolutely love it! And it's easier to use than you might suspect. Mine is extremely smooth, as most are that I've touched. It will deliever a very smooth shave. Basic honing skills should be acquired first. But don't be deterred.
This will blow your mind. Try this, or not: after you get comfortable with the stone, hone on it dry.
I thought we are talking razors and hones which implies that they will be used together to produce desirable results. I do not see how an expensive rock will make someone feel better just because of the price tag if the function is is not there.Quote:
Originally Posted by kaptain_zero
Sarcasm?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Can you give me an idea how you use your? With slurry, if so how heavy of a slurry, how many laps et cetera. I have one I purchased and promptly forgot about when I went in a different direction. I kept his silk vein stone in the kitchen to use with kitchen knives and I really like it for that application.Quote:
Originally Posted by Longhaultanker
Quote:
Originally Posted by dan656
Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert. I am only a hobbyist.
A Zulu isn't like a Coticule where you raise varying thicknesses of slurry. To me a Zulu is a finishing polishing stone. It is so dense, and heavy, a stone, I find it difficult to raise a slurry. Though a slurry rubbing stone is usually provided. When I have taken a razor through a finishing Coticule or Arkansas Translucent, I will then employ the Zulu. Lately I have been using it dry for touch ups. Stone in left hand, razor in right and commence to stroking. Usually watching TV. I use reps of 25 laps. I often go out 200 laps. For me it is a comfort, zen thing.
I'll say this: putting a razor to a dry Zulu is like laying a hot butter knife on a cold stick of same. It's like the Zulu was made to use dry. Very smooth. But, that's just my opinion, experience.
Do let us know how it works out for you!Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlospppena
As for slurry.... Most of what I have heard/read is that users of the ZG use a very light slurry, if at all. I got a slurry stone with mine, but I had problems with scratches from it so I tried using diamond slurry. For me and my hone, I have settled on water only when it comes to my ZG.
My other natural hones seem to work their magic slowly, needing about 200 laps. My ZG, on the side I lapped with fairly coarse loose grit and just left as is will do an excellent job in 60 to 100 laps.
The original polished and burnished side is slower and I had problems with uneven sticking.... some parts of the hone felt sticky to the blade and other parts were slippery, making it difficult to get a smooth stroke. The backside is very even and the coarser surface texture makes honing a breeze.
This is all part and parcel of a natural hone.... sometimes you hit it right off the bat, other times..... well... it took me almost a year, and I've still got things I need to try, dry honing is one of them! :beer2:
Any comparisons between it and a Vermio?
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerdvaark
I'd like to hear more than the one opinion I have already heard. Don't own the ZG myself, so I feel it would be unfair to make comments.
I don't see how either but for some people it most certainly does.Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
I haven't had any thousand dollar j-nats, or hones in general thank God, but I've had plenty of 'instant gratification', and IME it doesn't last but a few seconds and it is 'on to the next'. :boohoo:Quote:
Originally Posted by kaptain_zero