Thread: Escher or Charnley

I appreciate the feedback, guys. Personally, I'm not too concerned with the price. (Both stones are expensive.) Mostly the finishing characteristics. I guess what I'm really wondering is if it's worth having a Charnley in the collection if I already own an Escher.

Thanx,
Me

Originally Posted by CJBianco

I appreciate the feedback, guys. Personally, I'm not too concerned with the price. (Both stones are expensive.) Mostly the finishing characteristics. I guess what I'm really wondering is if it's worth having a Charnley in the collection if I already own an Escher.

Thanx,
Me

Depends on how bad you have HAD I guess.

I'll be able to answer this in due time as I have an escher and recently scored a Charnley for $150 that is on it's way to me.

As said before, it is a HAD issue!

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

As said before, it is a HAD issue!

Amen, brother.


Me

I've been wanting a Charnley for some time, I always seem to just miss one, now that the prices are so high, I think I'll pass. I have Escher's, J nat's and even a Shapton 16k among countless other hones...I don't think a Charnley will really do much for me. I'm trying to convince myself I don't need it....

BTW, I love the edge I get off an Escher w/slurry, slowly watered down until I'm just using plain water on it...what a nice edge it gives.....

Exactly, Zib, with owning an Escher, a Naniwa 12K, I had a Shapton 16 which I just sold, A jnat on the way, etc... Just doesn't seem worth the price.

But maybe if we keep talking about how they aren't that big of a deal the price will go down and we can grab one!

I really like both stones. As far as inflated costs go, both are affected by this issue to the same degree, so that is a side issue as far as I am concerned - if either stone was still commercially available I'm sure the price would not be as high - or maybe it would, seeing as they would have rather limited demand! Sure enough, you could pick up a CF for little money back in the day, but back in its day a Penny Black stamp was worth a penny. I haven't got a time machine, so I don't concern myself with what-ifs.

I have used CFs with oil, water, slurry, no slurry and have got outstanding edges. I have also got outstanding edges from eschers. The one thing I like about eschers is the smoothness - I usually have to knock back the CF edge with chrome oxide to make it smoother - I find that it gives a very crisp, sharp edge otherwise that my particular skin type is not happy with. I also find that the very hard, glassy nature of the stone is very uncompromising and that an escher with slurry slowly diluted to water is a bit more forgiving and softer.

I have had a number of JNats too - one I have kept is on a par with a 30k shapton GS and I keep it because I can use it with slurry. Some razors that seem prone to micro-chiiping will only get by (in my experience - others no doubt will find differently) with slurry. In these cases a hybrid BBW with a lot of coticule inclusions, an MST thuringian and the JNat is my chosen course.

My standard finisher, though - because it is dependable and gives consistent results - is slowly emerging as a 30k Shapton GS. It gives the smooth, buttery finish that I like, like I get with eschers and that I don't get with CFs, and a finer edge than either of the other stones. Not all steels can take it, though. And it is horrendously expensive for what it is - a sliver of ceramic hone on a bit of glass. That takes it into the same price bracket as eschers and CFs as far as I am concerned. And it is nowhere near as pretty as a nicely figured CF!

I guess you pay your money and make your choice - the value of a high-end finisher is not just related to its finishing qualities - imponderables such as collector value, rarity, historical perspective, attractiveness, perceived value-for-money all enter into it. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks when these intangibles are taken into consideration.

Regards,
Neil

I often thought about buying a Charnley. or to exchange an escher against you, because I have escher fourth for 2 years I think. But I have all the Naniwa, a Nakayama and some of Escher.
when I think how long you have to grind with a Charnley. and no slurry. and oil.
Jnat escher and are quick with slurry. Charnley's sado ..... I would rather save and buy another ozuku.

Originally Posted by CJBianco

Do you own an Escher and a Charnley Forest? Which do you prefer? And why?

I have both and am an "either/or" person after 16K. What you will run into is finding a quality CF is tough, where if you get a true Escher, you WILL have a good stone. My first finisher was a CF, bought from a respected razor guy.

My recommendations:
Either
Only buy guaranteed stones that are good for straight razors.
If you get a CF, get a longer stone around 10-12" as they are 2-3x slower than a normal 7" Escher.
Try to find someone within driving distance to you and try out their finishers...
Scott