Thread: Zulu Grey vs Naniwa SS 12K comparison

I've been using the Naniwa SS 12K for a little over a year now, and I just
received a Zulu Grey stone last week. I decided to compare the two stones,
using 2 identical razors (both of which are Solingen blades from the same
7-day set).

Both razors were in need of a touch-up, but the bevels on both were set by
gssixgun. I think that makes for as fair a comparison as I can muster.
Disclaimer: I have very limited experience with natural stones, so that may
skew the result somewhat.

Both stones were first lapped with a DMT 325 plate, and the honing was done
using water only on both stones.

The first razor was touched-up on the Naniwa 12K. It began to silently pop
my arm hair after about 12 straight laps using "weight of the razor" pressure.
That was followed by 3 X strokes for a final touch. It didn't take long at all.

The second razor took considerably longer, using the Zulu Grey stone,
to achieve the same result: about 100 straight strokes, followed by about
10 light X strokes.

This morning I shaved with both: right side with the Zulu Grey, and left side
with the Naniwa 12K.

The Naniwa edge gave me its usual crisp feel, with no irritation. The Zulu Grey
edge was equally sharp, but a bit "softer": it reminded me of the edge off a
translucent Arkansas stone. Both edges felt smooth, and the shave on both
sides was near BBS after 2 passes. It was difficult to tell the difference.

There you have it: a comparison using a familiar Naniwa 12K vs a first
experience with a Zulu Grey. Obviously, I need more experience with the ZG,
and hopefully I'll be able to improve on an already nice edge.