Hello all I know this question has been debated before but I'm still a little lost as to the main consesus regarding new Thuringian hones. I just recently bought one from Timber Tools and it came today. It feels quite smooth similar to my Chinese 12k and is a uniform dark grey/blue. What is the difference between a vintage Thuringian and a new one besides the date it was mined? And out of the new ones I've become confused about their variations. For insance the one's for sale on the UK's Strop Shop and others from Müeller or are they the same? Sorry to rehash this topic but I bought it in hopes of using it as a high grade finishing stone or mainly a good touch up stone. All of my razor were honed by Lynn and I was looking for a really good stone to use for a few laps every now and then. I do have others to choose from including a 10,000 Nawina Superstone a Chinese 12K, and a Coticule. I even have some diamond pastes and a modular paddle strop but because I am not that experienced with honing I still don't understand the whole agruements behind using pastes and their long term effects on bevels. I do have a couple of practice razors that I hone on but I have been very hesitent to touch my nice 3 razors that all shave wonderfully at the moment. So I guess then that I have two questions, first what is the main consensus on the newer Thuringian hones specifically the ones sold from Timber Tools, and second what is an ideal touch up stone or routine to use for small maintainence on my nice razors out of the various stones that I own listed above? I figure I will use my free honing coupons for the next time my razors need to be honed untill I feel more comfortable doing it myself on my expensive ones. But in the meantime what stones do most people like to use for a couple passes to keep their razors ship shape when the strop is not quite cutting it? (opinions very welcome) I know that there are many different routes but I would love some input and info.