Thread: Welsh Thuringian

i have a few of ajs stones and the welsh Lyn Melynllyn is a wonderfull finisher easyly compairable to my thurigan if you havent tryed one do so, you wont be sorry

I'm actually more interested in the dark Welsh slate's performance. I've had a purple Welsh stone for a while now, and the edges I'm getting from it as a finisher don't equate to what I get from either of my Thuringer hones. Comparable? Everything is comparable - but does it compare favorably? So far the best I've gotten off the purple stone is an edge that's noticeably less smooth and keen than what I had with honing the same blade on the Thuris (one is a labled Escher of a greenish variety - the other is a softer and lighter green Thuri). My results might be the result of the fact that I haven't meessed with the purple stone enough to nail it or it could be that it's just not that fine a stone. Jury is still out on that one.
The dark Welsh slate intrigues me, but not enough to plunk down some coin on one yet. If the hype on the purple stone revolves around an assumed and entirely theoretical 12k edge, and the darker stone is supposed to be 15k.... then I'm not seeing enough of a significant difference there to warrant buying one. Mind you - I don't make a practice of assigning grit numbers to jusge natural stones so I'm just referring to what AJ and others have written.
Basically - its my feeling that a difference of 3k isn't all that much of a big whoot.
Now - if someone with a few other hones that they know well, can do a comarison against the Welsh stones, and they think there's a big ginormious difference between the purple stone and the dark one, then that's another thing entirely.

Can I go straight of the norton 4k to the dragon tongue (8-10k?) or should I hit the norton 8 first?

Originally Posted by groovyd

i just ordered the set of 3 in 8" x 3" today, can't wait! They will be replacing my naniwa 12k I assume and if they do a good job I will be putting my other hones up for sale soon. Are these splash and go or do you need to soak them?

Splash and go is fine.

Originally Posted by groovyd

Can I go straight of the norton 4k to the dragon tongue (8-10k?) or should I hit the norton 8 first?

With a slurry you should be fine. The DT put a wicked sharp edge on a blade.

Originally Posted by Gamma

I'm actually more interested in the dark Welsh slate's performance. I've had a purple Welsh stone for a while now, and the edges I'm getting from it as a finisher don't equate to what I get from either of my Thuringer hones. Comparable? Everything is comparable - but does it compare favorably? So far the best I've gotten off the purple stone is an edge that's noticeably less smooth and keen than what I had with honing the same blade on the Thuris (one is a labled Escher of a greenish variety - the other is a softer and lighter green Thuri). My results might be the result of the fact that I haven't meessed with the purple stone enough to nail it or it could be that it's just not that fine a stone. Jury is still out on that one.
The dark Welsh slate intrigues me, but not enough to plunk down some coin on one yet. If the hype on the purple stone revolves around an assumed and entirely theoretical 12k edge, and the darker stone is supposed to be 15k.... then I'm not seeing enough of a significant difference there to warrant buying one. Mind you - I don't make a practice of assigning grit numbers to jusge natural stones so I'm just referring to what AJ and others have written.
Basically - its my feeling that a difference of 3k isn't all that much of a big whoot.
Now - if someone with a few other hones that they know well, can do a comarison against the Welsh stones, and they think there's a big ginormious difference between the purple stone and the dark one, then that's another thing entirely.

I think its been written a few times that the difference between the Lynn and the darker stone is minimal, on the other hand i do use a Lynn Mellynlyn and honing on that hone with oil instead of water makes quite a difference. If you have two thuringian hones
why get another thats similar??? Recently i got a Yellow lake in the 9 to 10 k range and found its quite a difference going from that to a finisher then the 8k.

Originally Posted by nicknbleeding

Splash and go is fine.

Nice! That is my biggest complaint about my nortons is having to wait for them to soak and the whole cleanup around it all. Would love a whole set of spash and go natural stones. What is the perfect sub 8k natural stone that would be a good replacement for my norton 4/8 assuming i got these welsh ones to finish? Is it the Belgian Coticule? Is that my next step? I have a DMT Duo 325/600 that I plan to use for lapping and could also use for setting bevel quickly. I was told the dmt sets a bevel fast which is what I want. The Norton 1k I currently use takes too long.

So basically one natural that would take me from dmt bevel to the DT that doesn't need soaked.

groovyd, coarse stones that I'm familiar with are Arkansas, Hindostan, Dalmore Blue, Coticule and BBW. Coarse Arkansas hones are not all suited for razors. Hindostans and DBs range from very coarse to finishers, not easy to get one of the exact grit you want. Coticules are common and range from coarse to fine finishers and because most are only interested in the finishers it should be easy to get a good coarse one. I don't know how easy it is to get a fast BBW but that would be the most economical choice.

I got his 15K hone. Used it on couple of razors: very nice results. Very cheap option if you want a nice natural finisher. Results comparable to Escher/Thuringian. Thuringen is only couple of 100 miles down the road, across the Pond, from Wales.

Originally Posted by groovyd

Nice! That is my biggest complaint about my nortons is having to wait for them to soak and the whole cleanup around it all. Would love a whole set of spash and go natural stones. What is the perfect sub 8k natural stone that would be a good replacement for my norton 4/8 assuming i got these welsh ones to finish? Is it the Belgian Coticule? Is that my next step? I have a DMT Duo 325/600 that I plan to use for lapping and could also use for setting bevel quickly. I was told the dmt sets a bevel fast which is what I want. The Norton 1k I currently use takes too long.

So basically one natural that would take me from dmt bevel to the DT that doesn't need soaked.

IF you want an awesome 1k. Chosera is fantastic. No soaking. Though to say about a 4k. Maybe a BBW then go to the DT with a slurry diluted to water. Then finish on what you like.

There are few naturals between the 1k and 5k. and, all of them are slow. Your norton 1k will be much faster than them. BBW is similar in grit and speed to the Dragon's tongue. If you really need speed, find diamond plates with grit around 2-3k if they do exist, and you'll be fine.