Thread: Zulu Grey vs. Greek Vermio on Identical Torreys

Originally Posted by outback

Hey Aaron, I see u like dish soap or WD-40 on your finishing strokes, have u tried using pure glycerin, thinned with water, along the way.

Found it works well with Nats

Jerry-I'm still very much in the experimenting stage myself, but I went to the ZG from a Nani 12, as there were some fellows testing it back in that South African Hones mega-thread who felt that the 8k to ZG jump was just a bridge too far without more extensive work on the ZG. I have had fantastic results by going from the Nani 12, creating my slurry with the 5x1 Escher starting with about 30 light circles on each side, then doing about 5-6 sets of 20 x-strokes starting on moderate thuri slurry, with a spritz of water diluting between sets on the slurry side of TC's 8x3. Rinse and flip, and do about 50-60 light laps on clear water on the polish side. Finish with another 50-60 laps with a drop of dish soap. I finish with my usual OCD stropping progression.

Results have been smooth and keen so far. Of course in order to really get to know the stone, I need to eliminate variables and see how far I can go with just the stone, water and maybe its own slurry. That same thread indicated that ZG slurry generated by a DMT or similar plate is also awesome, as its almost too hard to generate much slurry on the ZG rubbing stone.

Mike-I have done glycerin and water, but it's been awhile. As I have a large bottle of it and a few more razors to hone before going back to work, I will take your suggestion and give it a whirl. As it's water-soluble, I wouldn't have to worry so much about it around my water-stones. I don't even keep WD-40 at my regular honing table cuz I know I'm absent-minded enough to pick it up instead of my water bottle for a spritz on my water stones.

Whole reason I stay away from using oil, except for knives.

I like staying with water, for most of my honing, and use the build up of swarf as a way to lessen the effects of the stone, and ability to burnish the bevel.

Always cool to see how others accomplish their goals.

I have heard that said about polishing silver, that experienced hand polishers prefer to use a tarnished rag over a clean one, the swarf burnishes the silver.

I dont think 8k to the zulu is too much. But from the 12k would be easier. The edge i got was a great shaving edge. It was my SOTD pictured razor.

I might have to try your technique too, Mike. For what it's worth, I just test-shaved with both my recent Torrey and Ocean rescales hone up on the thuri slurry regimen above-total velvet squeegee. The Torrey especially didn't even feel sharp on my face-just butter smooth.

Meanwhile, my other naturals arrayed around my honing station are giving me the stink-eye. I especially want to revisit my long-neglected PHIG. The last time I used it years ago, I was really only a beginner with naturals, but still got great edges off it.