Hone Testing: Dota Creek, Bethresda Grey, AR Grey

Hone Testing

A progression of
Arkansas Grey Marked 4-6k
Dota Creek Marked 10-12k
Bethesda Grey Marked Ultra Fine
Coming off a Chosera 1k bevel set Shumate "Newport"
Using Smith's solution

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KISS Test Shave

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Immediate results on the very first try with new stones
CCS one multidirectional pass as usual


After posting this on Facebook and some discussion and point blank asking "What are They" which for some reason is an alien concept in the FB groups **SMDH**
I got this

"Mkay.. you guys force my hand on the stones. McBrides Stone Company is the source for the Bethesda Black and the AR Grey. Bethesda Black is a compressed shale(slate), but unlike any other slate you will ever see. They(McBrides) make counter tops/floor tiles/ desks and several other suspended stone things from it. You ought to see it turned as a column !!! The AR Grey comes from near Wideman, AR; and McBrides makes once again floor tiles/ counter tops / desks / building cladding and even use their breaking machine to give rough face exterior on high dollar houses. I get their cut off pieces and convert them one time again. The Dota Creek Stone does come from the creek running through my family farm. I have to wait until the creek is not running in the summer and gather up the big rocks with the front bucket of the tractor. It is a super compressed shale loaded up with all sorts of glistening silica particles. A lot harder of a stone than the other 2 in the mix too. Got a friend that is going to have a Chemical Analysis done on the Dota Creek stone. I don't have to know the specifics ~ All I need to know about the stones is how they work for people. I get 3 points of reference from knowledgeable folks before I call the stone for what it is. I depend on other people since I am already biased out there cutting / lapping / working the stones. "


I have done 7 razors on them since Monday, I have not felt comfortable enough yet to send any home to customers...

It is my personal belief that the Grey is a Stone known as an Ozark Banded Chert... I asked that and was not answered

Testing continues



Edit: Link added to McBrides thanx to Joamo

Trying a Solingen blade that was a gift from Germany :)

I have dropped the Progression of the AR stones and moved to my standard CXhosera 1-5-10 into a finisher that I use most often when honing every day


These are pics from before any hones


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Heel to Toe before ANY hones

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More pics coming

Honing

Chosera 1-5-10-Dota Creek in order

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New tests on the composition coming soon also

I was first told these were Limestone, I will do a HCl acid test as soon as I get time to test for that..

Are your edges still improving?

Thanks for doing all this leg work, though this isn’t helping my HAD at all.

This was the SOTD again a KISS shave

Williams - Face lather with the Semogue Boar - 1 Multi-directional pass - Mennens

Officially giving up on the Dota Creek for a finisher, and moving to the Bethesda Grey next week..

Wife got home from work, asked if I was feeling ok because my face was so red, no shaving for the weekend and get back to the fun on Mon


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Hone On !!!

Any updates on the gray?

Sorry I didn't have time to take it seriously since the long weekend, in an act of ultimate stupidity I decided that I could detail the boat myself..

I have now learned that detailing boats is a Young Man's game, but I also learned that spending $500 last year to have it professional done was money badly spent as they di not do the work need to get the shine that I got through aching arms, back, and hands...