Ordering Zulu Grey Hones

On March 27, I ordered a 3" x 8" Zulu Grey hone making the payment using PayPal. The web site indicated that there were aseveral hones of this size "in stock".

PayPal immediately charged the funds to my credit card.

Tomorrow it will be two weeks since I placed my order. When checking the order status on the ZuluGrey website, it says that the order is still "PROCESSING". I understand that shipping from South Africa to the USA can take a long time, but I have never heard of taking two week or more to ship an "in stock" item..

For those of you who have purchased ZG hones directly from the vendor, what has your experience been?

Unless the product ships soon, I would recommend that other SRP members refrain from doing business with ZulyGrey. If shipment is delayed due to unusual circumstances, that delay should be communicated either by email or on the vendor's web site.

Mine took a couple months to get to me. He and his friend do all the cutting and sanding by hand so it takes time. I wouldnt blame you if you asked for a refund. I think he should warn folks about how long it will take to get one in the mail. But im happy with my stone so...

This s normal for Michael, I know it's not normal for bigger business, but it is only a couple of guys, and when it shows stock it may be it is waiting to finish before shipping. But anyone who has ordered these for the last 4 yeas has always gotten them and it always took a bit to get. It's up to you if you cancel, but so far no one has been screwed out of their stone or money that I've heard about. Tc

Yes I have ordered the Zulu and Silkvein, took what seemed an abnormally long time... but was delivered and a fine stone at last. This is the only complaint I have heard concerning Zulu. Does seem like forever when you are waiting....

Matt.

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Hey...my mail takes 5 days to travel 600 miles from south Appalachia to south Florida. I don’t think two weeks from South Africa to (maybe) south Chicago is all that bad. My ZG took about 2-3 weeks to show up if I recall. Great stone too. Well worth the wait.

The site advertises the stones took over 200 million years to form...I'd say 2 week - 3 month delivery wait time is AWESOME in comparision:gl:
Seriously, I haven't heard of anyone getting ripped by Zulu. Good luck.
Jer

We're all spoiled by places like Amazon where things seem to arrive in lightning speed. At one time it took a month to get a parcel from L.A to N.Y

I ordered some still in development flight sim software 3 years a go and I'm still waiting, The site gives updates.

My point is not everything in this day and age is so timely. There are still things where you just have to wait.

The Zulu site has been around for some time now and everyone has been happy. You just have to be patient and wait.

Thanks to all who took the time to respond to my earlier post. I have been traveling and this is the first opportunity I have had to check the forum. The comments above certainly make me feel more comfortable with my purchase.

The Zulu Grey website says that most orders are shipping within 20 days, but the language seemed to indicate that was primarily if the size ordered was not in stock. I assumed that sizes in stock would be were ready for shipment in a few days. However, "in stock" may only mean that they do not have to go out and quarry new rock for cutting and polishing.

No one has every accused me of being patient, but I will try to wait patiently for my new rock to arrive. I do have other finishing hones to maintain my razors in the meantime. I just like trying new hones in a never-ending search for the ideal edge.

For the sake of others who might be interested in purchasing this hone, I will post again to this thread when I receive notice of shipment and once again when it arrives in Chicagoland. I will review the hone at some point, but as with many natural hones, the Zulu appears to have a learning curve to develop the technique to achieve optimal performance. Thus, I do not want to review the hone before I have spent enough time with the stone to understand its potential.

Wow. Instead of bashing the vendor here, did you consider communicating with the vendor? Not everything is done or sent immediately.

If the website says "most orders are shipping within 20 days," and today is the 13th day, then you don't seem to have any reason to complain. In my opinion you certainly have no right or justification to recommend anyone "refrain from doing business" with this vendor.

I checked out the website for the first time in years. There it said "all orders currently ship within 20 working days from the date of purchase. This is due to the fact that we don't have ready to go stock for certain sizes, so if in doubt, please email before to find out current, accurate shipping times."

Utopian, if you look at my original post, I stated: Unless the product ships soon, I would recommend that other SRP members refrain from doing business with ZulyGrey. Thus, I am still hoping the product ships soon.

But as you stated in your post, the 20 qorking day window indicated on the web site seems to apply to "certain sizes" that are "not ready to go". Because they indicated they ship "all orders" within 20 working days, I assumed that "in stock" sizes would ship s0ooner than that.

Update on my order for Zulu Grey stone. As noted in my posts above, I ordered a 3" x 8" Zulu Grey on March 27, 2018. The web site indicated that there were stones "in stock". About a month after ordering, I emailed Michael directly to follow up on the order since the status check still indicated the order was "processing".

Michael indicated that "in stock" means only that he has sufficient raw stones available to produce hones. He still has to cut, lap and polish the stones. Since this is a one man operation and production of hones in not his primary job, this can take a while. He indicated that I should receive another email from him in about a week" providing shipment information; a month later, that email has not yet arrived.

It is now May 28, more than two months since I ordered my stone and Michael accepted my PayPal payment and funds were withdrawn from my account.
I have not received any further update from Michael and the status check on my order still indicates the order is "processing".

The web site indicates that shipments are made within 20 working days. However, since the definition of "in stock" was quite different than I expected, it may be well that "working days" is defined a those days in which Michael is able to work with the stones; that might be only a day or two a week.

I still hope to receive my new hone sometime in the next month or two; but I would have been far more comfortable with my purchase had funds not been withdrawn from my account until shortly before shipment.

If you have ordered a Zulu Grey in recent weeks, or if you are considering ordering one, please be aware that you have to pay up front and it could take several months before you receive it.

I will update this post again when I receive notice of shipment.

I wish you luck and I hope the wait is worth the effort for you! Don't know what to tell you....

Ray,

Patience is a Virtue. I spent over 40 years in retail and well know that people are used to having what they want NOW.

When I ordered my Zulu Grey it was in November and Micheal was offering a nice Holiday Discount/so I'm sure he was up to his arse in alligators with orders. I believe it was late February or early March when my stone arrived.

I found the wait well worth it. I use my Zulu to finish most razors.

As other have also told of the long waiting time that they endured please be patient, Micheal will get the rock to you and you will be pleased with how it performs once you learn it.

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

Ray,

Patience is a Virtue.

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I understand that Michael's part-time business is vastly different than those who sell products for a living. I have ordered products from various shaving vendors and had the products shipped the next day and delivered in 2-3 days. Even when ordering custom products, I have received emails periodically with status updates.

I understand that Zulu Grey is not operating in that kind of environment and I can accept that. However, I believe Michael should be forthright in telling customers that it might take 3-4 months to fulfill an order. I do not think Michael is deliberately trying to deceive customers, but I do think he is being overly optimistic in his ability to fulfill orders. A month ago, he indicated my specific order would be shipped the following week, yet it has not been shipped.

I have several other finishing hones, so I am not desperate to receive this one. I hope the Zulu Grey one is worth the wait.

Update!

I just received an email from Michael indicating that my Zulu Grey has been taken to his local post office for shipment. I will provide another update upon receipt.

One waiting period completed, another begun.
Patience, patience, must have patience!

If my memory is correct. It took about 2 weeks for my Zulu to get from him to me. I think its got to change post offices a few times before they get it on a boat or plane. Good luck with your Zulu. I do like mine. And yes, I had a long wait too.

ANTICI....

PATION!!!!!

Be sure to read all the threads on using the Zulu Grey. Please report on your useage. You will find the Zulu is one of the hardest, dense, heaviest, smoothest stones out there. As such, after trying to raise a slurry, or using it with water or oil, I exclusively use it dry; and with complete satisfaction.

When I use mine that kinda my routine, I start wet and work it all the way dry. Gives up a very smooth edge. Tc

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Originally Posted by MedicineMan

PATION!!!!!

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Attachment 289832
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.

:tu

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.

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Originally Posted by jkatzman

Just got a email the stone was shipped

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I am glad your rock in on the way. If it is like mine, it is worth the wait.

I think Michael got overwhelmed with orders over a short period. I communicated with Michael directly and suggested that he make his web site a little more transparent. For example, his idea of "in stock" is that he has raw stones of an appropriate size and quality to produce a hone. For most people reading that phrase, "in stock" means sitting on the shelf ready to be packed and shipped. I think most vendors here update the inventory on their web sites, perhaps even daily. I doubt Michael is able to update his web site so quickly. Thus, his web site might show "in stock" whereas he already has more orders than his current inventory will cover. In that case, he has to go out an dig up more rock. He has to do everything himself and he does not make enough money selling hones to make this a full time job.

Thus, for anyone interested in a ZG, lower your expectations on delivery, but there is no need to lower your expectations on quality. Michael ships good stones. I have not honed enough razors to give a comprehensive review of my ZQ, but on those razors I have honed, I got keen, comfortable edges. It would have been nice to get my stone a little quicker, but not that I have the stone in hand, I am not disappointed. I cannot say that about every shaving purchase I have made.

What he said!!! ^^^^ :chapeau

Just got my stone with a slurry stone and travel stone that was included because of the delay. Took it out for a try with my new Jacob Ray razor. Tried it with water then with oil. Oil seems to work very good. I compared it with my Ark surgical black and so far prefer the Zulu. I like the feedback. It's slick but not glassy like the Ark. Blade seems very sharp and will shave with it tomorrow to see how it does. I also will try the Zulu dry. I found the Ark works great dry.

For the best of both worlds, try "Glycerin which is water soluble and washes off cleanly. It works for me with quite a few stones.
Nothing new here, this info is posted from time to time.

~Richard

Here's the picture of the Zulu Grey 3 x 8, travel and slurry stones. I have used 9 razors on the Zulu with water, glycerin-water mix and dry. I really like the results dry. My observation is there is more feed back on the Zulu then on my Ark surgical black. The edge on the Zulu dry then lapped on a strop gives a really smooth polished edge that shaves much better with less irritation then without the Zulu. I took my Attachment 292757 2016 Mastro Livi Club razor which I felt is very sharp but I've alway got a shave that irritated my face. I felt it might have been the steel or the fact the blade is very flexible. Anyway, 20 laps on a dry Zulu and it's like a completely different razor. No more irritation.

Update on my Zulu Grey. Since receiving it, I have only had a need to refresh a few razors. Yesterday, I shaved with a Ertan Suer Le Grelot Wings. The blade was tugging, so I picked up another razor to complete my shave.

Afterwards, I took the Ertan Suer razor to the ZG. I wet the stone, cleaned the top using a 2000 grit sanding sponge but did not raise a slurry. I then added a couple of drops of liquid hand soap as a lubricant.

I picked up the razor performed a series of circles and x-strokes and then stropped the blade. In fewer than five minutes, the edge was keen and smooth, ready for a great shave. The blade would easily pop arm hair 1/2 inch above skin level. What else could you want from a finishing/refreshing stone?

I had a wonderful shave with the last razor i finished on the Zulu. I found it as keen as off the 20k. Went fr9m 12k to the zulu. 50/50 water and Balistol for 50 to 70 laps. Then added a couple drops of Balistol every 20 or 30 la0s until i was at no water and straight balistol. I was gett8ng a good amount of resistance fr9m the thick oil but kept it up. M7st have done 250+ laps.

Razor was a Boker 4/8 and i got a BBS shave from it and id say it might have felt a little more comfortable than a 20k edge but at that point its hard to say. Keen and slid thru the whiskers.

So try some water based oils. It works great on a Zulu.

I've been using a 50/50 mix of Balistol and water and 60 laps. Works great.