Re-visiting the Silkvein Hone from Southern Africa

About a week ago I decided to have another day with my gorgeous Silkvein hone, that I got from "Jasper Kade", aka Mike, here on SRP. He personally mines, cuts, and laps them all by hand. They are absolutely gorgeous looking hones.

It just impressed me more than when I used it last time. I now feel it gives an edge equal to about 9/10K....at least that's what the BBS shave felt like.

I honed a J.A. Henckels Friodur (stainless steel) razor on it all the way from setting the bevel with a slurry, to finishing it off with just clean water, diluting as I went along. As a matter of interest, I use a DMT 325 grit credit card size plate to stirr up a decent slurry on this hone, in order not to contaminate it with anything else. The entire honing process took me around 45 minutes, if I had to guess.

I then stropped it on my magnetic bench strop ( Link here - Magnetic Table-top Strop with rubber feet, and 2 Hanging strops ) on nubuck leather impregnated with Chromium oxide, then on my home made cotton & Nubuck/suede strop ( link here - Italian suede and superb cotton...18 Inches of new Stropping bliss. )

The combination of the silkvein, CrO2 on Nubuck leather, then cotton and finally, plain Nubuck leather, gave me a superb edge. HHT absolutely effortless, and the shave is smooth as anything I've felt.

It feels like it gives me the same finish as about a Naniwas 10K stone, in my opinion. It seems to cut faster than some of my other naturals, especially with a heavy slurry. (Edit - Comparison to finishing, not cutting speed of Naniwa 10K)

My next experiment will be to finish with a C12K, after the silkvein, and I already know the result is going to be superb.:tu

Has anyone else had a session with their Silkvein recently, and would care to comment? Maybe some tips on what you've done with yours guys?

Thanks!

I would love to see pics?

Youre kind of making me want one...

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Youre kind of making me want one...

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Heh, that's exactly what I thought.

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Originally Posted by leadingedge

It feels like it gives me the same finish as about a Naniwas 10K stone, in my opinion. It cuts a lot faster though, especially with slurry.

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A natural that cuts faster than a Naniwa?!

There must be quite a range in properties from hone to hone as I remember Jimmy and Sham's reviews on their samples. It was around 8Kish and could be used at 4K+ I remember. I got the impression it was like a bit like a BBW but finer and slightly quicker. It was quite a soft stone I recall.

Yes leadingedge I do use mine. Attached pics with and without slurry. It is a beautiful stone I find to be be in the 8000 grit range with patience maybe 9000. I only use X strokes on this stone. Have fun..
MIke

Stop immediately. I'm starting to want one, its a seriously beautiful hone.

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Originally Posted by Scipio

A natural that cuts faster than a Naniwa?!

There must be quite a range in properties from hone to hone as I remember Jimmy and Sham's reviews on their samples. It was around 8Kish and could be used at 4K+ I remember. I got the impression it was like a bit like a BBW but finer and slightly quicker. It was quite a soft stone I recall.

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Sorry guys, mis-worded there, I meant to compare the finish to a Naniwa 10K, not the cutting speed! Mis-wording...

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Originally Posted by MODINE

Yes leadingedge I do use mine. Attached pics with and without slurry. It is a beautiful stone I find to be be in the 8000 grit range with patience maybe 9000. I only use X strokes on this stone. Have fun..
MIke

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Thanks for the pics Mike, I was just about to go take some photos of mine, but it looks exactly like yours! They are gorgeous stones...

They are very beautiful stones. HAD has replaced my RAD. That's why I refuse to open any threads about Japanese finishers. I purchased an escher 2 weeks ago and I'll be purchasing a CF momentarily.

You guys are killing me.

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Originally Posted by leadingedge

They are absolutely gorgeous looking hones.

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Yes they are. I occasionally take mine out of its equally gorgeous designer sleeve just to wet and behold it.

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Originally Posted by Oldengaerde

Yes they are. I occasionally take mine out of its equally gorgeous designer sleeve just to wet and behold it.

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How about a photo of your hone together with your gorgeous designer sleeve Oldengaerde? I bet we all want to see it now....

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6907/p5211118crop.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2204/p5211127crop.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3...211119crop.jpg

http://img807.imageshack.us/img807/4...211120crop.jpg

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/5...211122crop.jpg

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5...211123crop.jpg

Looks just like mine...........:beer1:

And how do those of us unlucky folk go about attaining such as gorgeous rock?

I just might have to reach into the drawer of the work bench and get mine out and give it a spin.

Hi Guys, glad to see some positive talk about my hones, means a great deal that you guys are happy with them :)
Lynn, it would be great to hear your personal experience with the Silkvein, I've been dying to know what you really think and how it performs for you...

Maxi, please PM me to discuss.

Thanks again guys,
- Mike

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Originally Posted by Oldengaerde

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Gorgeous photos of a very good looking hone!

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I just might have to reach into the drawer of the work bench and get mine out and give it a spin.

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Ditto on that one! I haven't danced with my little lady in a while and need to revisit her. I've been on the synthetics for a while taking care of some things for others and haven't gotten to visit my fun hones aka naturals.

This is without a doubt the most beautiful stone that I have ever had the pleasure of owning or even using. It's one of those that I will never let go of.

Pretty short thread, unfortunately....
It is an older thread though. Are there any owners that have anything to add?
The stone looks nice for midrange work. Would like to hear a bit more before making a purchase decision.

The hone is a finisher,,,, with that said,, I'll try to find some more threads now & link them here.

African Silkvein threads

http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...-silkvein.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/vendo...-discount.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...th-africa.html

Interesting, but the Zulu grey and the silkvein appear to be different animals judging by the Zulu grey website and the pictures contained there. I wonder if Mike's made any progress with the Silkvein.

Yes,,, they are different.

It sounds like the Silkvein was almost a limited run based on supply. Maybe it's just not as common and they come & go as they're mined and cut. Was it determined if there were variances in these stones based on color?

I'm not well versed on its history & production,,, I've got about 8 razors finished on it & I'm happy with the results.

I just shot off and email to Michael to get more info. Like others I'm a fan of varied stones and this one sounds like fun.

Sounds like a winner,,, let us know the latest info on the Silkvein.

They are not listed for sale and no pics on the site yet. Just a space for them :<0| I think Donald Trump is buying them all up for flooring in his new hotel next to the White House :D


Sorry my imagination kicks in sometimes and I can't help it. I also imagine that would be a great place for a razor meet. If they didn't mind 200 guys laying on the lobby floor water squirt guns in 1 hand and a straight in the other.

On a serious note: I use my Zulu with every razor I hone. It puts that buttery feeling back in my Sheffield s and even puts a little in my German steel.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:gaah: :rofl2:

If you post any pics of those purple ones I will have to quit smoking to afford the payments on 1. IF the viens ran the other way I would be on my way to CVS right now getting the Nicoderm patch :<0)

Micheal appears to be alive & well and mentioned that he has a small cache of uncut Silkvein stones available.
I put in an order for a 2x8 that I'm excited to receive & use. I requested a purple stone so we'll see what ends up shipping; color wasn't a condition of the purchase... just a request. Maybe I'll make good use of the lead time and build a nice base for the stone before it comes in.

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Originally Posted by tab

Micheal appears to be alive & well and mentioned that he has a small cache of uncut Silkvein stones available.
I put in an order for a 2x8 that I'm excited to receive & use. I requested a purple stone so we'll see what ends up shipping; color wasn't a condition of the purchase... just a request. Maybe I'll make good use of the lead time and build a nice base for the stone before it comes in.

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How long did it take for you to receive your Silkvein? I talked to Michael via Email several times before placing my order, he was very fast at answering questions. but as soon as I placed my order (Aug 28th) I have sent three emails asking for an update and no reply. The website just shows 'processing'
I am a pretty patient guy, and as long as I know what to expect I can be ok with it, but not knowing anything kind of freaks me out.

I am looking forward to testing out my new Silkvein, and compare it to my ZuluGrey.

Any suggestions, I am all ears, and thank you for your time.
Kevin.

It took almost 2 months for some Zulu's years ago, but they get here & I have never heard of anyone placing an order from Michael, that did not get their stone.

If you ordered it on the 28th,,, then I would be shocked if you had already received it.

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Originally Posted by sidmind

How long did it take for you to receive your Silkvein? I talked to Michael via Email several times before placing my order, he was very fast at answering questions. but as soon as I placed my order (Aug 28th) I have sent three emails asking for an update and no reply. The website just shows 'processing'
I am a pretty patient guy, and as long as I know what to expect I can be ok with it, but not knowing anything kind of freaks me out.

I am looking forward to testing out my new Silkvein, and compare it to my ZuluGrey.

Any suggestions, I am all ears, and thank you for your time.
Kevin.

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I just pulled up the emails and it took 8 weeks from the time I paid until the stone was shipped. I opened a PayPal dispute prior to 60 days, and closed it once tracking on the order was provided.

Sorry to hear about your delays.

Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by tab

I just pulled up the emails and it took 8 weeks from the time I paid until the stone was shipped. I opened a PayPal dispute prior to 60 days, and closed it once tracking on the order was provided.

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WOW, there was no indication that the stones were backordered, in fact he is running a 30% off sale and it reads as if Silkvein is in stock, a few weeks ago when it said 'coming soon' I am a pretty patient guy but things like this drive me nuts, a simple reply to my multiple emails could have cleared it up without needing to ask in the forums. For example when I ordered my SG20k Stu let me know the wait times and expected long deliveries. I was cool with it because I was given info.
Regards,

Not making excuses for Michael, but all t to f his stones are cut and polished as their ordered, he just has the rocks in stock, and sometimes he has a few already done. Kinda like Harley did in the 90,s with thei bikes you had to order before it was built. But he will get it to you, plus even after it leaves SA customs union s pretty tough too. But yes he could have just responded to your concerns. Let us know how It works. Tc

When I bought mine a few years ago it took a long time to get but not his fault. Their Post office was on strike so my stones sat for a while. I did get them.