Does this Escher need a slurry stone?

[JeffE]

So I've been trying to buy one of these forever, but every single one that comes up for auction goes for over $300. Then I spotted this Escher last week, which is kind of small (5" x 1") but at least it has its own box, right?

Anyway, here's the question. Other Eschers I've seen seem to have a little slurry stone or nagura included in the box (presumably made of the same stone that the hone is cut from). This one, however, does not. So how do I (1) buy an Escher slurry stone to use with my hone or (2) get a slurry to develop without using a stone?

Thanks!

[Joed]

I use my Escher as a finisher only and just with water. There are others here that only use their Escher w/ slurry. I would say just try it with water only and then determine if you need a slurry stone. My Escher is really soft and develops a slurry as I hone. If you really want a slurry stone try this site: Original Escher Stone - Sharpening Stone from Germany

You may need to contact them directly to see if you can get just a slurry stone.

Good luck

[McWolf1969]

+1 Joed.
The need for a slurry stone, depends primarily on the speed, in which you desire this hone to finish for ya...otherwise, depending on your hones you progress with, one is not needed, per se.
I personally, finish with my Escher, following the yellow coticule and have not needed the slurry stone i have.
As for an alternative...a high grit diamond card, would do...though less desireable, imo.

Thanks,

Mac

[gugi]

i also almost never use it with slurry despite the directions.
i am not convinced this is an escher though, I don't see the company logo or name on the label. it's a thuringian for sure, and they appear to have become very expensive of that price is representative.

[JeffE]

Thanks for the help! Appreciate all of the responses, and if it does not turn out to be an actual Escher, I will try working with the seller through PayPal. --Jeff

[Kees]

This is probably a generic Thuringian hone. Some have on the label a trophy cup with E&S in it in which case it is Escher. They were sold without slurry stones but if you want one I can get you a slurry stone.

[zib]

Kees is correct, they were sold without slurry stones, I have one just like it, with an Escher label in the box...
I'm with Gugi on this, I never use a slurry and I get fantastic results....I never use a slurry when I'm on a finishing hone...
Actually, I only use a slurry on a Coticule....That's it....

[Kees]

Eshcers are Thuringian hones but not al Thuringians are Eschers. Like we tend to call all bubbly champagne.

The vendor must have done some research into hones, how else would he have come up with the idea to call this hone an Escher? As it does not say Escher on the label he has consciously tried to take advantage of the inflationary properties of the Escher name.

[JeffE]

Agreed. In fact, if he had just described the thing accurately from beginning, my guess is that he would have gotten near the same price from at least one of the other people bidding on this hone (and there were quite a few).

I know that others have said that if it's a great hone, then the label doesn't make a difference, and of course that's true in one sense, but as the person who overpaid for this item thinking that it was something else, I can tell you that it does affect the enjoyment that I would get from owning the hone, even if I never end up reselling it. Anyway, thanks again for all of your help. I would never have noticed this problem without the guys here, so I appreciate all of the good advice!

[dylandog]

Yes it's frustrating to think you've been taken advantage of. (In general I wish newer guys weren't going and spending hundreds of their hard-earned dollars on "real Eschers" – unless they're antique-collecting and know what they're doing, but that's another matter). But keep in mind that the fact that the seller was playing fast and loose in his listing, and then behaved like a jerk when called on it (slagging off Lynn etc.) – these things don't necessarily mean that the stone you bought isn't an Escher.

The label isn't clear in your photo, but it looks very similar to the inner labels on two Escher & Co. hones of this size, type, and box that I've had in the past. E. & Co hones used a particular wording on their labels, and their labels on these small boxed hones were usually color-coded – green for a green escher, blue for a blue, pink for a black (go figure on that one!) etc. Is your label yellow or is that a photographic distortion? Does it say "the celebrated German razor hone"? Tell us the wording and we might be able to tell you something.