Thread: Got my first Escher!!

Gratz!

Birnando and I did a temporary swap at the London meet last weekend; I borrowed his Y/G Escher and he borrowed my J-Nat.

I've been having a play with the Escher over the last day or two and I'm really liking the edges I must say!

Glad you like yours! Welcome to the HAD!

Gary,

What you say here is the same thing I've been doing. If the slurry is too thick and slimey its fun but it pushes the edge duller imo. I tend to spray with water after I rub the slurry stone on it.

Originally Posted by gary haywood

well i have been shaving of coticule to escher with just water then i have tryed slurrys plus slurry then water. escher with water seemed to work but on one acasion it felt to sharp and left me with some tingle after . slurry seemed to make ny razor smoother but not has sharp. so i went and rehoned back to coticule to start again. after listening to shams advice , i took my coticule edge back to escher. i new somthing was'nt right. so i developed a very light misty slurry, just enough so the razor under cut the slurry . just may be 4 to 5 rubs with slurry stone. i diluted slurry so it was watery consistancy. i then did 80 slow with the weight of blade laps.

the shave this morning was perfectly smooth gentle on my skin. i don't normaly shave atg. so i did with this edge and this is where i noticed the differance. the razor shaved atg so nice and comfortable especialy under my chin area, also with some ease. so thats my best result so far . compared to my coticule edges i still would like to say which one is better. on this acasion with same razor comparing yesterdays shave of my coticule and todays shave of escher i would say escher was the better shave. also i have found after coticule the escher seems to work quiker than my coticule with water. for example i could do 200 laps on water with coticule and the shave would be no better no worse. i have found that 50 laps on water on escher there is a noticable differance. so i think escher used after coticule if your coticule is'nt there and not getting quite where you want it, i'm sure escher will get it there much easier and quiker.
still i only had this stone 2 weeks but i feel i'm getting some where now.
gary

Escher/Thurries and Jnats are very very tempting for me right now. I'm one of the guys that has only finished on 2 stones - mostly c12k.

I'm currently trying various manipulations of the slurry, and find wonderful results. I've gotten nasty sharp w/ the brick, and with slurry, butter smooth, but not quite as sharp. I'm getting the impression that edges from natural stones are largely about learning what slurry manipulation your face likes best. I like smooth, but want some sharp - so the next blades will be slurry, water, a layer of tape, and a few laps on the c12k after it has dried completely for the controversial micro bevel. 'Seems that by varying the amount/thickness of slurry, and then the subsequent finishing will give you almost any edge you prefer.

I hope to try some other stones as budget allows.

You know, there's nothing wrong with a Chinese 12k, they'll put a nice smooth edge on your blade, just slow, slurry helps.

I have several Escher's with instructions, some in boxes still. Some of them, and IIRC, it's the Dark Blues, say use with just water and a "Slime" will develop. The lighter ones, the YG say use with slurry. I managed to get a few mueller slurry stones and, I have to say, it's a marked improvement. YMMV. I do prefer a slurry stone over rubbing it with a diamond plate when I can...

just using my blue /green escher with water i can feel a very slight slime.it seems very subjective wheather to use slurry or not. light slurry seems the way and may be a thew laps to finish on water won't harm. i found the edge of slurry felt smoother than water only. very light slurry that was
gary

I think there is a fine line line where the slime is a cushion more than a cutter for a smooth yet very sharp edge.

Originally Posted by life2short1971

I think there is a fine line line where the slime is a cushion more than a cutter for a smooth yet very sharp edge.

I fully expect the slime requirements would be altogether different for even another of the same type of stone - due to variation. I'm just grateful the humble rock can give a good edge if I take the time to learn & practice.

I have a dark blue now and I must say I like the Y/G a bit better but still I haven't met an Escher I don't like.
I do pretty much the same thing others do and that's use a coti then go to the Escher for most razors. Some larger blades that are close to a wedge I will use a JNat and then an Escher.

To have a thinner slurry, instead of really thick...

Isnt that sort of the same thing as slathering too much CrOx on a strop?

If "less is more" for that form of honing, it makes sense that it would apply to the Escher as well, no?