Thread: Escher

Originally Posted by JOB15

Finally I got a chance to try my new Escher..

Firstly I lapped it with the Shapton diamond plate . Then tried some Atoma 1200 but those things are starting to get on my nerves. The newer one has a copper patch where the diamonds must have fallen off, so I went to the DMT 325.

The top side with bevelled edges was in a bad way . I just cleaned that side up a bit and then lapped the underside , which is now the new topside

I think it is a black Escher although it could be a dark dark blue?

I honed up 3 blades on the Chosera 1/5/10k . A Dovo for my brother and my Hart custom , plus a W&B 7/8ths.

Took them to the Escher. Defiantly hand held is the way to go, its quite enjoyable..

Used a slurry with all three but finished with water on the W&B.

It's hard to comment on the results because I'm used to a super Nakayama which gives next level honing results..

The W&B I did 2 stokes down my cheek and then put it away because I know what that edge is capable of and the Escher did it no justice imo.

Then I got out the Hart custom. It was sharp and mellow. It gave me a BBS shave and my face felt really comfortable afterwards.

I could tell that the Escher was around a 12k stone.

I think that if I shaved daily then I might just use an Escher but because I shave once per week I require a really special edge produced by my Nakayama..

Bare in mind im new to Escher's .

In saying all that , I do love it, its a little black obelisk ..

Pretty much mirrors my experiences. Eschers/Thuris are great finishers but nothing magical. I have yellow/green, dark blue, and black and they are all great stones but do not get to the 'Feather-like' edge that I prefer. To get there, I need synthetics or diamond-pasted leather.

I've been awaiting your take on the new Escher. Nice score! I have yet to try anything above a 12k Super Stone, but I prefer my blue-green Escher edge to that stone. Some day I hope to see what all the fuss is about with the SG 20k. I predict I cannot keep HAD at bay indefinitely...

Originally Posted by Speedster

I've been awaiting your take on the new Escher. Nice score! I have yet to try anything above a 12k Super Stone, but I prefer my blue-green Escher edge to that stone. Some day I hope to see what all the fuss is about with the SG 20k. I predict I cannot keep HAD at bay indefinitely...

Agreed - I'm in the exact same space - the S20 begs occasionally, but deciding to get that stone essentially removes the naturals then, no point going to the nats after a 20k stone...and love the edge from an Escher, Coti, or Water of Ayr stone, nothing like it.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Agreed - I'm in the exact same space - the S20 begs occasionally, but deciding to get that stone essentially removes the naturals then, no point going to the nats after a 20k stone...and love the edge from an Escher, Coti, or Water of Ayr stone, nothing like it.

That's why I never bought the S20, I'm afraid that it would obsolete a large section of my hone drawer! That's one of the reasons that I sold my Shapton Glass 16K, I love finishing on the naturals.

@JOB15 give it some time and exercise. With feather light touch comes the feather light edge, identical to the best of the jnats. It's just a bit slower, but not a lot. I use a dark blue, apparently the most common and the least loved (at least on the forums it looks like it) and it's a top notch hone. I doubt it gets any better, for me at least. If I can't feel the edge on my face and no sting of the AS, there's nothing more to ask for.

Originally Posted by Srdjan

@JOB15 give it some time and exercise. With feather light touch comes the feather light edge, identical to the best of the jnats. It's just a bit slower, but not a lot. I use a dark blue, apparently the most common and the least loved (at least on the forums it looks like it) and it's a top notch hone. I doubt it gets any better, for me at least. If I can't feel the edge on my face and no sting of the AS, there's nothing more to ask for.

I have a few stones that can produce an edge with those 2 qualities (Can't feel edge, no burn from AS). The third is how easy the cutting action is, but to a degree that's just nit picking. My least keen edges (Coticule, ZY Cnat) still get me a close, clean, and comfortable shave even if they do have a smidge of resistance compared to my keener edges (Shapton Kuromaku 12K, Arkansas, Jnat). I have razors honed with both Coti & Cnat in my rotation, and no desire to re-hone them with a keener edge. Unless it's to max the blade on the 12K then walk it back on the naturals just to see what happens.

I don't have any urges to pick up hones beyond the 12K. To go much beyond that you're looking at a hone that costs over $300. Cheaper (By a long shot) to start using paste at that point. The only things really left on my HAD list are a good Thuri, and maybe some barber hones for kicks 'n grins.

If looks like a bear, smells like a bear, and tries to eat ya, it's most likely a bear. If it does what you need the name is of no importance

Originally Posted by Srdjan

@JOB15 give it some time and exercise. With feather light touch comes the feather light edge, identical to the best of the jnats. It's just a bit slower, but not a lot. I use a dark blue, apparently the most common and the least loved (at least on the forums it looks like it) and it's a top notch hone. I doubt it gets any better, for me at least. If I can't feel the edge on my face and no sting of the AS, there's nothing more to ask for.

cheers, I will give it more time n effort.

This time try skipping the slurry. It seems like anytime I use slurry with an Escher I get lower quality edges unless it's a very hard razor. The edges I get with no slurry are much closer to "Feather-like" IMO - I like a good Feather Pro edge too.

Originally Posted by eKretz

This time try skipping the slurry. It seems like anytime I use slurry with an Escher I get lower quality edges unless it's a very hard razor. The edges I get with no slurry are much closer to "Feather-like" IMO - I like a good Feather Pro edge too.

Yup I have pretty much found the same thing using these stones. The slurry stone for me has become more of a surface conditioner before finishing with water only strokes. I get the best result using very light strokes in rather numerous amounts anything from 50 to 100 depending how resistant the steel is to abrasion. on some razors 40-50 is enough on others need a lot more for good polish.