Thread: South African Hones....

OK All my Zulu-Grey arrived last week - very nicely packaged. I checked its flatness by first lapping with 600 then lapped with 1500 wet paper. It was perfect.
Decided to do a touch up on my Williams. I used the stone with water and a touch of soap in the water. After checking the progress under my loupe, I decided to bring up a slurry - I used some 1500 paper - and took the razor a step back to make the edge consistant to the Zulu-Grey. I worked my way back to water only, lapped on Crox on Balsa, then Crox on felt, and finally stropped on my Roo strop. I gave it a shave test - read full shave - this morning. The edge was wonderfully sharp and without harshness. I am NOT a honemeister and I expect as I get more experienced with the Zulu-Grey, I will achieve an even sharper edge. The shave was better than my professionally honed razors that were finished on a Jnat. A big THANK YOU to Mike for making these stones available.

You said "All my zulu greys"? What are they? Consumables? Your gear acquisition disorder is worse than mine. The rest of your post is very inspiring. Can't wait for mine to show up.

It is: OK All - My Zulu-Grey. Not all my Zulu-Greys

BTW - I do believe hones are consumable - they wear down and out

REVIEW OF THE ZULU GREY

Have a look at my hone collection http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...n-hope-so.html
I have three razors only; Thiers-Issard Pierre Thiers Limited Edition, Diamond Blue razor and Thiers- Issard Crown Silverwing’ razor

When I got the Zulu grey, I was hoping for a great finisher, Right out the box I noticed how hard the stone was. Days before my Zulu grey arrived, I was finishing my TIPTLE on my J nat. The edge was okay but very nice mirror finish. Honing on the J nat I could feel the shape edge and loads of feed back from the hone and razor. So I decided to give the Zulu grey a quick go, I picked up my TIPTLE, sprayed some water on the Zulu grey and I started honing away. I noticed the feedback I got from my Thuringian grey/ Escher hone was different with the Zulu grey when you are honing with it. This stone is much harder. When you hone on a Thuringian you can feel a positve corrolation between the razor and hone, the sounds it makes and the sharpness of the edge of the razor, after a few strokes, I wasn't sure what to expect, This stone did not feel any thing like my Thuringian hone, then I noticed how sharp the edge was, I felt the edge on my finger and that was the feedback I was looking for, I could immediately feel the sharpness of the edge. I was in a rush I was off the an art gallery to see Rembrandt van Rijn painting. I had a quick shave and immediately I noticed how smooth the shave was and I knew the hone was going to be a keeper. REMEMBER THIS IS WITH WATER ONLY.

When I got home I took out some of my hones, I tried my small slurry stone on the Zulu grey, the slurry stone was no match for the Zulu grey, so I took out a 1200 wet and dry paper sprayed some water and got my slurry, noticed how light it was. Nothing like a Thuringian slurry at all, its light. I took out all three of my Razor, it was judgement day for all three razors. I worked my way up with a few X strops on my Thuringian and Escher hone. The Edge was sharp. Then I started using my Zulu grey hone with slurry, It had a nice feel to it and I noticed how keen the edge was on my razor. I have small hones, as you can see from my collection so I basically do the X strokes. My Zulu grey is 6 x 2 so finishing on it is much easier than my other smaller stones. After using a slurry, I finished off with just water. I am not a hone cheif, but the edge I got off the Zulu grey was the best I have gotten off my razors till date. Shaving off the Zulu grey was amazing.
My third shave off the Zulu grey was with my TI silver wing and that was equally impressive as well. I remember when I started using a straight razor I sent my razor to Steve form the TI UK because it got dull and I did not know how to get my edge shape shape shape. Well the edge I have gotten off the Zulu Grey has the touch of a professional honemeister. Sorry for the delay in my review.

Many thanks
George

I'm glad you are sticking to Rembrandt. With razors that sharp clearly Vincent is off limits!!!

The second day's shave even better than the first. It was very sharp and extremely smooth. I am a believer for sure - The Zulu-Grey has become my go to hone. I find honing on this stone is extremely easy compared to even my made mades.

I think one of the things you'll notice with this hone is ease of use. It's not very complicated as far as hones go, and it's very forgiving. I would recommend this hone to beginner's as well as experts. It does put a mirror finish on your edge. I've been using it after my Escher.

Originally Posted by zib

I think one of the things you'll notice with this hone is ease of use. It's not very complicated as far as hones go, and it's very forgiving. I would recommend this hone to beginner's as well as experts. It does put a mirror finish on your edge. I've been using it after my Escher.

Zib, could this hone be a straight finisher? Without having to to go to an Escher? My last stone will be a shapton glass 16k, after that I will go to the Zulu Grey with slurry. Well, there is only one way to find out, try it myself! I'm hopping to avoid a finer stone in between (like Escher $$$) to get an "Escher" like shave.
It's all Jimmy Had fault! For introducing me to the most comfortable and BBS shave I had from a razor he finished for me on an Escher. Ever since I've been obsess of finding one on the wild. That is, until I read your review here and took the plunge on the much more resanobly priced Zulu Grey.
On another note, can I lappe it on my DMT 325 then go to straight to an Atoma 1200 to smooth out, or do you recommend me go through a wet/dry progression, up to the 1500, then use the Atoma to raise the slurry? Thanks and apologize for the many questions at once. Double O

Originally Posted by Double0757

Zib, could this hone be a straight finisher? Without having to to go to an Escher? My last stone will be a shapton glass 16k, after that I will go to the Zulu Grey with slurry.

Yes,
read my review, I jump on it from 10k SS and it works just fine.

On another note, can I lappe it on my DMT 325 then go to straight to an Atoma 1200 to smooth out, or do you recommend me go through a wet/dry progression, up to the 1500, then use the Atoma to raise the slurry? Thanks and apologize for the many questions at once. Double O

it does not matter as long as it is very smooth when you use it, if you can get that with atoma after the DMT then go for it.