First shave off vintage Thuringian

I'm an unabashed coti fan, but I was able to snipe a Celebrated 5X1 off the 'bay for cheap, my first Thuringian.

Lapped in 10 minutes. Raised a slurry and gradually diluted (maybe 8-10 times), 10 X strokes each time, then finished with 30 on water. (Razor was another recent 'bay buy -- $10 Giesen&Forsthoff; love those blades, BTW).

Results were spectacular. Honestly, I cannot distinguish this finisher from my best cotis: same gentle finish. Only difference is that it is noticeably sharper! Closest shave I've had in some time.

I guess my point is: don't be discouraged from trying one of these rocks by the $300-700 price tags on the big Eschers. I'm partial to skinny stones, so that helps a lot, but it's possible to experience one of these great stones for cheap (mine was under $60), and it maybe the best $-to-value hone purchase I've ever made. Just have to be persistent.

I had a similar experience over the last week as I picked up a 6x2 belgian blue and a coticule of the same size. Except that I had been used to using the Norton's that are 8x3. So I'm one step behind you in levels of hones I suppose.

What I did notice was that I tended to be much more careful knowing that there was less room for error in keeping the blade perfectly level, so my technique probably improved as well.

Overall the shaves following have been great.

It also occurred to me, while observing small hones for sale, that a narrower stone would force one to hone at an angle as one is supposed to do correct? That would help ingrain the technique of a new user, as the previous poster mentioned.

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Originally Posted by rostfrei

It also occurred to me, while observing small hones for sale, that a narrower stone would force one to hone at an angle as one is supposed to do correct? That would help ingrain the technique of a new user, as the previous poster mentioned.

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In my experience, a perfectly symmetrical razor is rare. This may have a lot to do with the fact that I like historical blades. My "natural" honing stroke has evolved into a rolling X regardless of how regular the blade might be.

Many say they can use the edge of a wide hone successfully using this stroke. I have far less trouble, however, using a narrow hone. I tend to get sloppy on anything 2" or wider, figuring I'll hit the edge somewhere on the hone.

The other advantage, in my opinion, is that a narrow hone will get into minor frowns effectively. I encounter a number of these, and don't always pick them up on visual inspection.

So, for me, a rolling X on a narrow hone (done lightly, with care) automatically anticipates and deals with a lot of razor faults.