Thread: Ordering Zulu Grey Hones

Originally Posted by MedicineMan

PATION!!!!!

Fixed it for ya!

Like all natural stones, I am sure the Zulu Grey will have a learning curve.

Since it is so dense/hard, it might make a great base for using a nagura and let the nagura donate the slurry particles. I picked up a Whiteheart hone from a friend who purchased it from Griffith Shaving. He did not like honing on it, so I purchased it from him. After playing with the stone for a while, I used my Coticule to generate a slurry on the Whiteheart, but most of the slurry came from the softer Coticule. I then tried honing a Hart razor that has a tendency to be chippy. I started with thick slurry and progressively diluted the slurry down to plain water. I finished on the Whiteheart with plain water. It is one of the more successful attempts I have had honing the Hart. At least I could shave with it without tearing up my face.

The Zulu Grey will provide me with yet another tool to try on the Hart. Like Edison trying to develop the incandescent light, the Hart has resulted in far more honing failures than successes. Maybe the Zulu Grey will provide some South African magic.

I enjoy the variety of hones that I have, but I don't enjoy the variety of steel quality found in Hart razors.

Shipping update.
Michael shipped the Zulu Grey hone on May 30. There was a minor delay in outgoing customs in Durbin, SA and again upon arrival in New York. The hone arrived at my Chicagoland mailbox on June 15. Thus, the total time from ordering to delivery was twelve weeks.

Hopefully, the hone will be worth the wait. The stone was very well packaged and withstood the torturous journey quite well. The stone was lapped on all sizes, but was polished on only one. The back side of the stone has a couple of small chips near the corners, but it could still be used for sharpening. The stone is quite dense and hard. The polished surface is very smooth. Thus, it should be a good finishing hone.

Due to the length of time required for Michael to ship the stone, he also included a bonus: a 3/4" x 3/4" x 7" travel hone. It was lapped on all sides, but not fully polished. It will be a great knife sharpening stone, but I am not sure I will use it for razors.

The question I need to answer over the next few weeks is whether it will be a better finishing hone than my current finishing hones: a Vermio Greek hone, an Imperia la Roccia, a true hard black Arkansas, and a Llyn Melynllyn welsh slate, all of which produce nice edges. I am hoping the ZG will produce even better edges. More to come.

Good to hear it arrived safely.

My thoughts: if you are honing well now with the stones you mentioned, the ZG will be a nice addition. It will likely become your finisher of finishers. It is just that kind of stone. I don’t know much about the stones you mentioned except the Arkansas True Hard. The ZG will produce about the same smooth / keen edge with maybe a bit more polish. Don’t get caught up too much in over blown hype. The ZG is a fine stone and will deliver. Try it dry and see what you think. That’s how I use mine.

My Zulu and my experiance (and thats not much compared to a lot of guys here) i find the Zulu does a fine job of finishing. In my estimate, around the smae finish as around 12k. Not that you can put a grit rating on a natural. As far as better? I think that is all in the users opinion. Yes, it is a fine stone and works well, but is it BETTER than another slate? That is up to you. At some point i found a great edge from finishers, but going beyond that fine of an edge is hard to compare. Besides comfort.

Glad you got your stone. I do like mine. Ive used it dry, slurried, touch of soap, windex and just clear water. I cant say ive spent enough time to say what way was the best so far but it does put a FINE finish edge on a razor. Good luck and let us know your findings.

One things for sure, for the size and/or weight of the stone, its worth the money. I dont think anyone could ware thru one in a lifetime of honing. Thats one hard SOB! Check how flat it is. Mine was close but not perfect so i spent a couple hours laping mine a bit more. Took forever.

I ordered my stone 3 months ago and still haven't received it. Just informed them if not shipped to cancel the order. Should not take this long. They should cut and polish the stones, have inventory available or list that they don't have inventory. When I ordered mine the size was listed as available.

Just got a email the stone was shipped

Only another 2 weeks for shipping and it will be in your hands. Its a big rock, and for the price i think its worth what we paid for them.