Thread: First experiences with the "Dragon" Slate hone

I just bought one recently with no expectations, I just liked the name. I was surprised at how fast this cut with slurry. I removed a couple of small chips from a Greaves and Sons 1/4 ground in just a few minutes. Then Using a quick dilucot I finished on water and was really amazed at how keen the blade was. I was not expecting it to be compairible to my 8k SS but it seemed that it was "maybe" even slightly finer. This could have been a fluke and it was the first and only time I've used it so far. I haven't shaved off of it yet.
The one thing I noticed is that When used with water the blade was trying to stick to the hone and kept skipping. I had to keep a lot of water on top of the hone to keep this from happening. I think I may try finishing with lather to see if that helps. I did lap the stone to 5 micron a/o film and I suspect that's the cause.


Sean

I've been honing my razors on it going straight from setting the bevel on a cheap 1k king stone.

Its important to get the bevel spot on with no burs or flat spots, then finish on very light passes on water only to get it as sharp as possible to make the leap straight to the Dragon.

I make a good thick slurry with the Dragon stone and do 50 circles in each direction with a little pressure. The 1K scratches are now gone.

I then do about 50 laps from one side of the stone to the other watering down the slurry with water and gradually decreasing the pressure applied.

Then I do a dozen laps on my longstrider strop + starkie blue. Then 2 laps or so on the dragon stone dry with no pressure. This to to check there is no micro bur from the strop, I might repeat this a couple of times. But finally finishing on the strop.

This is the best shaving edge I have achieved yet and better than the shave ready razor I purchased which was sharp but felt aggressive to the face and not smooth sharp. I'm not claiming its a finishing stone but its a really good pre-hone to a Starkie blue pasted strop. I'm going to try a Chinese 12k natural next as they are also quite cheap.

Obviously a 4K hone in the mix would be a good thing. I have a synthetic Nagura and have been finishing with slurry from that on the 1K. No idea what grit that is if if it would work on a soft 1K. Generally very happy with the Slate.
I've also found it very handy for finishing my Kitchen knives.
I've only Lapped mine on 180gt paper which I let wear down so it was lapped on its own grit.

I am thinking I want one of these just for fun, but want to check with prior buyers if te inigo Jones does come with the cool cardboard box like the web site says..

Slate Honing Stones for sale by Inigo Jones

Well mine did