A new old finisher

[Druid]

I just received a Welsh Slate hone from the e-bay seller. I suppose it technically cannot be called Llyn Mellynlyn or Yellow Lake, but it comes from the same area of North Wales.
A good friend, Gary Haywood, a man who forgot more about honing a razor than I will ever know, recommended it to me after trying one himself, and being very impressed by it. So for $40 U.S., it was worth the experiment.

The stone measures 200x62x18mm .. a goodly sized rock, with a matching slurry stone. It was cut from the same slab as Gary's stone.
I started by flattening on my very well-worn DMT 325. It took some time, even though the stone itself is not that hard. I also flattened and radiused one side of the slurry stone. I then burnished the top of the base stone with the slurry stone. Verrrrry smooth!

I chose a razor that has always been a great, and reliable shaver. I had recently been touched up on a coticule. I raised a bit more than a misty slurry, perhaps skim milk, on the slate, and proceeded with my usual routine of circles and X strokes. I rinsed the stone and commenced a finishing procedure on plain water, perhaps 100 ultra light X strokes. The HHT, pre strop, was impressive. I stropped as I do a freshly honed razor off a natural, and shaved. I was prepared to be disappointed like I had been so many times before by stones with more highly vaunted names than this. But, I was absolutely astounded by the shave .. I could have been finished in one pass, but I did my usual four to check for face friendliness, followed by the alum block, which always points up a rough shave.
Very impressive, as keen as the best coticule, and perhaps a tad keener, and left my sensitive skin smooth and comfortable. To say this was a revelation to me would be a huge understatement!

My experiments with the Welsh Slate are just beginning. I don't know how much it can really do as far as being a "one stone hone," but judging by metal removal on slurry, it may be just a finisher. But, when it comes to finishing, the Welsh Slate is the "real deal!" I don't know why I haven't read any glowing reports elsewhere .. perhaps because of the low price, but as a pure finisher, this stone will outperform many highly vaunted finishers. The seller pegs the stone at 12 to 15K, an warns not to underestimate this stone. I concur wholeheartedly!

This entire experience has been a pleasant journey for me. Not another "hone of the day," or the "latest and greatest," just an honest piece of slate the does an admirable job at a price anyone can afford .. apparently without the sometimes extensive learning curve that scares so many away from the Belgian coticule.

BTW, I know there's nothing new here .. These stones have been around a long time, but I never gave much credence to them because of the lack of glowing reports, and probably, dare I say, because of the low price.. I've recently seen it called a cross between a coticule and Naniwa 12K, showing the best attributes of both, and I think that description is right on the mark!