Thread: South African Hones....

Him and Sham...

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Him and Sham...

Sham tested one. He and Modine posted their impressions on another forum.

Well since you asked opinions....If ever I order another, I'd like it to have two perfect honing surfaces. I don't have any preference about the sides though. I can definitely recognize the value to the distributor in not having to lap flat all 6 sides of a stone. I've never liked the look of all these random chunks of japanese stone with one flat side somewhere to hone on. JMHO Just looks lazy to me...Even though I do understand their reasoning is to utilyze as much of the stone quarried as possible with minimal waste. I think my ZG has already been fixed up traditionally though, so...I'll take it that way instead. :P

I'm afraid I'm going to muddy the waters re preference here. Personally I like it when a natural thing looks like a natural thing, and so to me those bits of 'skin' look fantastic. And so from a strictly selfish point of view, I'd be very happy to find bits of skin on mine when it arrives.

However I think you have two valid points to the contrary to consider:

1) not wanting to come across as trying to flog stones as pseudo-JNats. We know you're not doing that, but will the wider world? I think that's worth bearing in mind. Perhaps inking the ZG logo as you suggested would alleviate this concern?

2) folks who want as many honing sides as possible.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

1) not wanting to come across as trying to flog stones as pseudo-JNats. We know you're not doing that, but will the wider world? I think that's worth bearing in mind. Perhaps inking the ZG logo as you suggested would alleviate this concern?

On pics Zulu gray may look like a Jnat but when you have it in your hands it will become apparent there can be no mistake which is which.

I like the idea of being able to fix a label to the underside of the stone. That being said if there was a way to get the bottom smooth enough to lacquer a label to it, yet still see some orange that would be the best of both worlds to me. Enough to distinguish it from a Jnat, but still have the label on it. I don't need two flat sides because I use smith's honing solution which isn't petroleum based so it washes right off with water.

I like it just fine like this

Skin on side



Clean on the others




If and when I can't use straight or hone anymore and my kids don't want it, I would put the sticker on it and sell it on the future e-bay. I like it the way I got it, thanks Micheal. Double O

The best thing you can do if your interested (and if you have the means) is get a stone. This is not a plug for Michael by any means. It seems everyone is waiting for someone's else's opinion. You know what they say about opinions. I read the other forums, and some of it I agree with, and some I don't. Does this stone improve an 8k edge? Hell yes it does. I shave off an Escher every day. I'm very familar with that edge, it's a B/G I got from Lynn years ago.

You can blindfold me, and shave me with a razor finished with a Coticule, a Jnat, Diamond spary, Escher and a Zulu, and I can tell you which is which. I know what I like, Everyone has there favorite finisher, and after years of trying things, I like Escher's. To me, there's nothing more comfortable, and ultimately that's what I'm after. Ease of use, closeness and comfort.

I don't use microscopes, although I think the pics are cool and useful. I respect the other's opinions, but when the day is done, it's my face, and I know what I like. If I'm honing from bevel to finish, by the time I get to the Escher, I don't need to do much work. If it's the Zulu, I have to do 100 laps to get that killer edge. Maybe there's some variance from stone to stone, after all they are naturals.

So, Take what your read with a grain of salt. In the end if you have a stone you don't like, you can always sell it...

Happy Honing....

Originally Posted by zib

The best thing you can do if your interested (and if you have the means) is get a stone. This is not a plug for Michael by any means. It seems everyone is waiting for someone's else's opinion. You know what they say about opinions. I read the other forums, and some of it I agree with, and some I don't. Does this stone improve an 8k edge? Hell yes it does. I shave off an Escher every day. I'm very familar with that edge, it's a B/G I got from Lynn years ago.

So, Take what your read with a grain of salt. In the end if you have a stone you don't like, you can always sell it...

Happy Honing....

I haven't read the other forums, but after talking to Jimmy yesterday and hearing what he thought about the Zulu and what others honners he respect tought about it, I came to the same conclusion. What matters is what you think! The only way to find out is trying it yourself.

I heard from Jimmy that some one he thinks highly as a professional honner (does it for living) puts the grid of the Zulu on about a 10k.

With that in mind, last night I did a test shave, with a Genco (one of my favorite blades, this particular I think was made by Case) and gave it a retouch on my 16k Shapton, strop on clean hard wool felt (40) and 100 on the roo strop. Then proceeded to shave half of my face with it and the other half with the Dovo stainless steel that I finished on the Zulu a week earlier. The Dovo had 2 shaves (slight disadvantage for the Genco finished) and the Genco was fresh from the stone and strop.

Both shaves where very nice, with the Zulu been closer shave (not by much) and the Zulu Dovo a little less feeling on the face, again, not by much. For me it seem to improve a some, out of my synthetic 16k Shapton glass. In fairness, it should have been done with same steel if possible, but that's what I did last night.

I did try a new technic on the 16k that I tought of doing after a read from the J-Norton challenge. And I believe I got a little more sharpness because of it. So, what if I try oil on the Zulu? Or what if I try the same semi dry passes I finished the Genco on the shapton with the Zulu? Or what if ......?

Which bring me to my point to what Zip (Rich) said. It is your face and that is what matters at the end of the day. With so many variables, steel, honing technic and honer experience, variations on naturals and what ever other variable I can't think of right at the moment, the Zulu in your hands could be just so so, or a killer finisher (like for me). Only YOU can tell what it is for you!

When I was learning how to fly RC Helis, the most asked question was, what equipment can make my helicopter fly better, and the answere from the most experience guys was, buy more fuel or batteries (if it was electric). In other words, fly more. I see in honing is similar, hone more, read and experiment for yourself. Only you can tell.

It is always appreciated to know what others think of something. It gives a reference, but at the end of the day is what works for you, and you'll never find out if you just stay reading and not trying. For $130.00 (for an 8X3) vs $700-900, my choice for trying a natural finisher was eassy. Double O

Originally Posted by Double0757

I heard from Jimmy that some one he thinks highly as a professional honner (does it for living) puts the grid of the Zulu on about a 10k.

I wonder how did they came up with the number, naturals except coticule and maybe a fewothers have somewhat defined shape and measurable size, Everything else is flakes, so how do you decide the grit in that case?