Thread: South African Hones....

I've honed or refreshed 5 razors with this "Magic Grey" by now, a 3/4 hollow Puma (new production), a Wehl & Co “EMRO”, a Wacker 3/4 hollow, a Pensilvania (French manufacturer), and an Es-Ex ERN. The results are getting better every time. I'm quite excited about this finisher. I also think that people are fiddling too much with lapping, slurry and such. I just use it as it came, spray a little water on it every 20 laps, and after about 150 it's ready for the strop. Why did I buy all this diamond spray and CrO2? I really don't need it! Life is good!

Once you learn the stones you will use pastes n sprays less and less. Congrats on the new finisher...it only gets better

Can't sleep either, huh? ;-)
I have this intuitive feeling that the effect of the ZG is even better when used after the 10k or 12k Naniwa. Those razors that where finished with either 10k or 12k before I refreshed them with the ZG I think where just a tad sharper, than those I re-honed from 3k and then jumped to the ZG from the 8k. Or maybe the razors were just better. Time permitted, I'll run some tests to clear this up in the near future. I'm also not sure where my 3" wide Spiderco UF would fit in, if at all. BTW, the Spyderco UF 3" is way better (i.e. smoother) than the older 2". They apparently upgraded their equipment to finish their hones. Anyway I consider the ZG the last nail in the coffin of my HAD. :-)

Originally Posted by CatMan

Can't sleep either, huh? ;-)
I have this intuitive feeling that the effect of the ZG is even better when used after the 10k or 12k Naniwa. Those razors that where finished with either 10k or 12k before I refreshed them with the ZG I think where just a tad sharper, than those I re-honed from 3k and then jumped to the ZG from the 8k. Or maybe the razors were just better. Time permitted, I'll run some tests to clear this up in the near future. I'm also not sure where my 3" wide Spiderco UF would fit in, if at all. BTW, the Spyderco UF 3" is way better (i.e. smoother) than the older 2". They apparently upgraded their equipment to finish their hones. Anyway I consider the ZG the last nail in the coffin of my HAD. :-)

I have found the same, the edges are a bit sharper after my 16k shapton glass then ZG than just going from the 8K to the ZG. Specially true on my three Shefields I've done. I notice that in some instances I've lost some sharpness from the 16k after going to the ZG, but not to make a difference on the closeness of the shave, but gaining smoothness along the way, IMHO. And yes, simpler and more consistent than the CrOx and diamond sprays.

Also I have been experimenting with CBN spray on .25 and .10 (because I have them) as a light slury on the final strokes of the edge on the ZG (25-35 strokes). The two razors I've done, have improved very slightly on keenness and smoothness, but not enough to justify the cost of the CBN spray IMO. I'll keep experimenting!

Which brings me to a questions for the experienced honers. Do you think the Zulu Grey could be used with Jnats nagura or any other Jnats slury making stones? Double O

Originally Posted by CatMan

I've honed or refreshed 5 razors with this "Magic Grey" by now, a 3/4 hollow Puma (new production), a Wehl & Co “EMRO”, a Wacker 3/4 hollow, a Pensilvania (French manufacturer), and an Es-Ex ERN. The results are getting better every time. I'm quite excited about this finisher. I also think that people are fiddling too much with lapping, slurry and such. I just use it as it came, spray a little water on it every 20 laps, and after about 150 it's ready for the strop. Why did I buy all this diamond spray and CrO2? I really don't need it! Life is good!

You and me both. I like a simple life. Water is all I use. It does take a lot of laps though. All my razors see 60-80 laps on a Chinese 12k before I go to ZG. The first few razors I did around 80 laps on Mr. Grey. They were fine, I was happy with the shave, nice and smooth, but I kept reading posts about butter smooth etc. and I asked myself am I really there. I went back and played some more ("Are you honing again, honey? How often do you need a sharpen razor?") Once I got to around 150 it made a big difference. Patience and a light touch seem to be the simple answer. And a good bevel to start with.

I have done 14 different razors. Most various Solingen blades with a few lesser brand French.

Originally Posted by Storsven

("Are you honing again, honey? How often do you need a sharpen razor?")

You're not alone, my friend..

Some questions for the resident experts. 1. Would this be a good first hone? 2. Could you do a one stone honing progression with the Zulu? 3. Could this hone be used just to touch up and refresh a edge, like a Barber's hone? My razor collection is growing and I would like to start honing when I get back home. Thanks.

Edit: As shooter mentions below in post 360, I did not mean progression I meant to say what ever it is you call a honing only using one stone.

IMO it will not be good first hone. Based on everything you read on the SRP the first hone better be a combination Norton 4k/8k. You would spend a very very very long if you tried using the Zulu to set a new bevel. It is a polishing stone, not a grinder. It should work for refreshing a gently used edge. I have done that myself a few times.

Originally Posted by Double0757

I have found the same, the edges are a bit sharper after my 16k shapton glass then ZG than just going from the 8K to the ZG. Specially true on my three Shefields I've done. I notice that in some instances I've lost some sharpness from the 16k after going to the ZG, but not to make a difference on the closeness of the shave, but gaining smoothness along the way, IMHO. And yes, simpler and more consistent than the CrOx and diamond sprays.

Also I have been experimenting with CBN spray on .25 and .10 (because I have them) as a light slury on the final strokes of the edge on the ZG (25-35 strokes). The two razors I've done, have improved very slightly on keenness and smoothness, but not enough to justify the cost of the CBN spray IMO. I'll keep experimenting!

Which brings me to a questions for the experienced honers. Do you think the Zulu Grey could be used with Jnats nagura or any other Jnats slury making stones? Double O

Just from my experience, using a paste/spray while honing on a stone seems kind of counterproductive. These treatments are better left to linen/balsa/nylon webbing etc where they are on material that, itself, isn't removing or affecting the steel too intensly. The underlying stone is still going to be having a major effect so putting something of a higher grit on the stone... you get where i'm going. Typically slurries are used to lower the grit and increase cutting speed. Not to say i haven't played with this idea either, i've tried CrOx and CeOx while on the hones and found little to no effect. Hope that helps/makes sense/saves money.

Originally Posted by dustoff003

Some questions for the resident experts. 1. Would this be a good first hone? 2. Could you do a one stone honing progression with the Zulu? 3. Could this hone be used just to touch up and refresh a edge, like a Barber's hone? My razor collection is growing and I would like to start honing when I get back home. Thanks.

1. First good finisher, yes.
2. I don't think you meant to enter the word "progression" here with the one stone method. This stone would Probably not work with one stone honing on a ebay razor. This stone is too fine. It will work fine on a razor that needs refreshing, but I don't "think" it would work well for re-setting a bevel without a lot of work.
3. Yes, you would start off with a medium slurry and circles diluting 2-3 times (I use 10 drops of water on my stone) to a clean water only stone where you would finish with around 100 strokes on just a wet stone using your prefered stroke of straight or x-strokes.

As mentioned above, this stone may not be your best choice for "honing", a Norton 4/8 or Naniwa 3/8 would serve you better. This stone is a very fine stone well suited for finishing and maintaining a razor.

Please note that I have not learned everything this stone has to offer...yet. I do know it is a good finisher and has already earned a place with my proven finishing stones.