Thread: Escher or Thuringian?

Maybe I misunderstood him! I agree that Bob does some of the best work around, and I've used him for all of my honing. When I asked him about my chromium oxide/balsa strop, he started telling me about how that just ends up dulling the edges over time and that he doesn't use anything like that. I then asked him what he uses after his 8k stone, and he said, "nothing -- just stropping." Anyway, I can't seem to get anything approaching a decent edge without some kind of finishing stone, so maybe the difference is in the skill of the person doing the sharpening.

Originally Posted by JeffE

Maybe I misunderstood him! I agree that Bob does some of the best work around, and I've used him for all of my honing. When I asked him about my chromium oxide/balsa strop, he started telling me about how that just ends up dulling the edges over time and that he doesn't use anything like that. I then asked him what he uses after his 8k stone, and he said, "nothing -- just stropping." Anyway, I can't seem to get anything approaching a decent edge without some kind of finishing stone, so maybe the difference is in the skill of the person doing the sharpening.

Back in the early days of SRP, when it was still the yahoo group, from what I understand, the norton 8k was the finishing stone. When I was beginning to learn to hone , still learning, Randy told me to test shave off of the 8k before moving up. If it ain't shaving good off the 8k higher grit honing is like putting choclate frosting on dog doo ..... if you'll pardon the analogy.

Bob keyes gets great edges of the nortons there 's no dout. Its true what jimmy says you have to be shave ready at the 8k level if your not your wasting your time using your coti or eschers thury etc. I for one newster think ah if i get a higher grit the razor will become better but it does'nt work like that. there is no reason why any one carn't shave of 8k if honed fully. Then if you use your thury you will apreciate the extra smoothness.

You can improve your 8K edge considerably by using chorm ox. pasted strop after honing and before stropping on plain leather.

thats very true i have done that with also dpaste. How are you escher uses using your eschers with or with out slurry. Some say water some say slurry?

Originally Posted by gary haywood

thats very true i have done that with also dpaste. How are you escher uses using your eschers with or with out slurry. Some say water some say slurry?

Y'know Gary, I believe that they put those instructions on the label for a reason. They tell you to make a 'lather' with the rubbing stone they included and I do. I then dilute as I progress just as with the coticule using Bart's method. I have also used them without slurry. You know how it is ..... you just do what 'feels' right depending on the blade and how you feel that day. Note that they say to lay the razor "pretty flat"..... I got a kick out of that.

I have about 20+ thuringian\escher\german waterstones and most of them came from antique\flea market sales. Tool sellers, knife sellers and antique stores are the best sources. Keep your eyes open!

For $160 I would send the hone back to the seller.