Thread: timbertools thuringian

The stones we re talking about have so many different characteristics. Are we sure it's the same stone, from the same quarry all those stones? Does anyone has quantity to tell us about his observations?

Originally Posted by markdfhr

I'm no expert, but from what I understand, the risk with any natural stone is that there can be a wide variation between each within a given type. I would guess that the mine where true Eschers comes from gave consistently good rocks OR whoever branded them had good quality control. Which it is, I don't know.

I have one of these Thuringians from Timbertools and it's smooth as glass.

Supposedly there from the same mine, and I guess quality control had a lot to do with it as mine is smooth as glass also, although someone here with more experience told me to lap it well, and the new service was really really nice. I'm very glad that I got mine.

i have zero reason to believe it is from the same quarry.. to my knowledge those quarries are defunct.
i think it has been said these are from the hunsrueck<sp?> area and not the thuringin area.. if this is not the case i am speaking of the mueller stones.. regardless, not the original escher quarries.

I heard the original mines were contaminated and therefore the acquisition of new samples was frustrated. Contamination could be construed to occupy several different meanings, my understanding being that they had become of too great a toxicity to allow humans to go enter. How and why, I do not know.

Same quarry, different area perhaps? I had read somewhere that certain 'new' Thuringians had been created from one large slab of remaining Thuringian, apparently the same rock that Escher & Co. used. That's quite a burden of proof, and the means to prove it would no doubt be impossible if not disproportionately expensive. Whether anyone is mad enough to incur said costs is another matter.

I have also heard from experienced members that the 'new' variety are Hunsruck, which is similar, albeit different, to Thuringen.

The fact that they are being sold by a tool company may suggest that they are more suited to tools, unless it expressly states 'for razors' and even still, I would tend to think this is mere puff, for I'm an advocate of substance and not form per se. Saying that, C12k (Phigs/Guangxis) are too sold by a tool company, but my due diligence confirms that it is pot luck whether a 'good' one can be obtained, for they certainly lack the consistency which Escher and Co obtained; further some fellow razor enthusiasts would deem they too be too slow to be useful, although others whose opinion I respect claim some are able to impart a brilliant edge.

The general consensus is that these 'new' Thurrys are not as good as the vintage variety, though there are exceptions to both types. Some vintage aren't as good as some new, but most new aren't up to the level of the vintage.

Just wondering if there is a link to the MST company?

Originally Posted by Scipio

I heard the original mines were contaminated and therefore the acquisition of new samples was frustrated. Contamination could be construed to occupy several different meanings, my understanding being that they had become of too great a toxicity to allow humans to go enter. How and why, I do not know.

Same quarry, different area perhaps? I had read somewhere that certain 'new' Thuringians had been created from one large slab of remaining Thuringian, apparently the same rock that Escher & Co. used. That's quite a burden of proof, and the means to prove it would no doubt be impossible if not disproportionately expensive. Whether anyone is mad enough to incur said costs is another matter.

I have also heard from experienced members that the 'new' variety are Hunsruck, which is similar, albeit different, to Thuringen.

The fact that they are being sold by a tool company may suggest that they are more suited to tools, unless it expressly states 'for razors' and even still, I would tend to think this is mere puff, for I'm an advocate of substance and not form per se. Saying that, C12k (Phigs/Guangxis) are too sold by a tool company, but my due diligence confirms that it is pot luck whether a 'good' one can be obtained, for they certainly lack the consistency which Escher and Co obtained; further some fellow razor enthusiasts would deem they too be too slow to be useful, although others whose opinion I respect claim some are able to impart a brilliant edge.

The general consensus is that these 'new' Thurrys are not as good as the vintage variety, though there are exceptions to both types. Some vintage aren't as good as some new, but most new aren't up to the level of the vintage.

this I have to reply to, I don't care if they're being sold by the guy who sells oranges on the offramp in California, if they work, they work, if they don't I could return it and it was only 170 bucks as opposed to $500 for a much smaller Escher. To me the gamble was worth it, and it paid off mine works just fine and there are several others here that are very happy with theirs. As for the others I have no idea if they could sharpen with the best of stones, I can get a fine edge from my Norton's, and I have noticed repeatedly that my stone does nothing but improve the edge.
As for their origin I've heard a couple different stories one being that a source "when the wall came down and this is supposedly part of the same mine that the Escher's came from this could be true or nothing but happy horse plucky I don't know. But I do know is that my works and that's really all that counts. And for 200 bucks it was well worth the gamble.
Thanks
Griz

MST is the Thuringian also very good, like an Escher. He also comes from directly from Thuringia. We have compared with the old Escher. Almost no difference.

How old was the MST you used?

new, so a MST and a Dark Blue Escher. There is really no difference

Originally Posted by strawinski

MST is the Thuringian also very good, like an Escher. He also comes from directly from Thuringia. We have compared with the old Escher. Almost no difference.

what is an MST? Where does one get one and do you have any pictures? Honestly I thought you were being a wiseguy, as I have never heard of an MST for Thuringia for that matter.
Thanks
Griz