Slurry, Dilution, Grabbing

[WW243]

I am using a Zulu as a finisher and have found that dilution of a slurry that seems to work perfectly on a small Escher I use and a big Welsh Slate does not work with the Zulu. When I reach about 3/4 dilution if I can describe it that way the Zulu is fine, smooth, no worries but as the water clears the razor feels like it is on a totally different stone and it is a feeling I do not like at all. Does this make any sense to those members experienced in honing or to Zulu users specifically?

[UKRob]

I find much the same with my Zulu Grey. I find that mixing just a little liquid soap with the water helps plus I use very little pressure with both hands to overcome the jerkiness.

[WW243]

What do you suppose is causing this? Thanks, I'll try your method.

I find much the same with my Zulu Grey. I find that mixing just a little liquid soap with the water helps plus I use very little pressure with both hands to overcome the jerkiness.

[Neil Miller]

I am using a Zulu as a finisher and have found that dilution of a slurry that seems to work perfectly on a small Escher I use and a big Welsh Slate does not work with the Zulu. When I reach about 3/4 dilution if I can describe it that way the Zulu is fine, smooth, no worries but as the water clears the razor feels like it is on a totally different stone and it is a feeling I do not like at all. Does this make any sense to those members experienced in honing or to Zulu users specifically?

Same here. I think one of mine came from very close to amother strata, and ,the surface was decidedly gritty in places. Prolonged - and I do mean prolonged, arm achingly long lapping solved this, but I still find that I am only happy with the edge 70 per cent of the time and generally go on to another hone that gets the job done quicker.

I agree that it feels better once slurried, but as you thin the slurry it turn s into the hard, sometimes gritty (in my example) stone that it is. It also takes an inordinately long time to remove the rounded, mushy ('soft and smooth' in coticule language) edge left by a decent slurry - for my purposes anyway.

Bear in mind that comes from my point of view as a honer with a tight schedule to meet, though. No doubt if you were honing for yourself and indulged in the time for this stone to do its stuff it would be a different story, as witness the many who raved about it.

Regards,
Neil

[WW243]

Well, I hesitated to say this but as the slurry thins it begins to feel like I am hitting patches of another hone embedded in the ZG. I really like the history of this stone and man who put his heart and sweat into it but something is off. As a rank amateur I did not want to whine too loudly about it until I received some additional feedback.

[Neil Miller]

Well, I hesitated to say this but as the slurry thins it begins to feel like I am hitting patches of another hone embedded in the ZG. I really like the history of this stone and man who put his heart and sweat into it but something is off. As a rank amateur I did not want to whine too loudly about it until I received some additional feedback.

That is essentially what I meant by my example being too close to another strata, and the gritty feeling.

I dont mean that it felt gritty all over, but only in a few isolated spots.

Lapping removed this gritty or grabby feel from where I had noticed it, but then it would occur inanother, different place.

I am pretty sure that it is representative of small inclusions. Maybe examples from nearer the centre of thicker seams of this stone do not exhibit this.

Regards,
Neil

[WW243]

Cedric Smythe made a box
He didn't make a hone
Our Mother Earth did that
And she was all alone.
Animals and Plants
Came and went
And added to the mix
But Cedric Smythe knew a box
Was so much easier to fix.
UGH!

That is essentially what I meant by my example being too close to another strata, and the gritty feeling.

I dont mean that it felt gritty all over, but only in a few isolated spots.

Lapping removed this gritty or grabby feel from where I had noticed it, but then it would occur inanother, different place.

I am pretty sure that it is representative of small inclusions. Maybe examples from nearer the centre of thicker seams of this stone do not exhibit this.

Regards,
Neil

[Neil Miller]

Cedric Smythe made a box
He didn't make a hone
Our Mother Earth did that
And she was all alone.
Animals and Plants
Came and went
And added to the mix
But Cedric Smythe knew a box
Was so much easier to fix.
UGH!

Cedrick knows a good poem when he hears one. It makes him smile. He isn't smiling.

Right now I figure that he is more interested in your measurements as he's making a rather large box...

Purple will be Ok right? I mean, the colour wont be bothering you much where you are going...

Regards,
Neil

[Double0757]

I find that my best edges from the Zulu come when I leave the slury on. It is a very light slury that I start with and end with. My favorite edges from the Zulu, come from using a Turingian slury. With this I strat with a slightly cloudier slury and dilute to very light, but never go to water. Smith honing solution is a good alternative to using water only. That's my humble take on this stone. I like the Zulu and its edges. Not my favorite at this point, but I've been very happy with it. I think it has value.

I also experience problem razors on the Zulu, that when taken to another stone they get corrected. I don't know what it is but I have, like Niell said, experimented with problem razors on the Zulu and have been able to get good edges most of the time. That's how I got to tried the turi slury on it. One razor would not give smooth on the Zulu but it did on the turi, that's how I took the turi to the Zulu (that almost rime) and it turned out to be a hit. Enjoy!

Double O

[WW243]

My first take on this was not favorable but then I thought of the JNATs and their companion stones so it makes sense, and definitely I will try this...I did finally stop going to water and went to CromOx for a few laps and I was happy enough. But now I am fascinated with trying the Escher as my Botan. Thanks DoubleO757...this never stops being fun and this tops liquid ass.
Just between you and me, what is your favorite?

I find that my best edges from the Zulu come when I leave the slury on. It is a very light slury that I start with and end with. My favorite edges from the Zulu, come from using a Turingian slury. With this I strat with a slightly cloudier slury and dilute to very light, but never go to water. Smith honing solution is a good alternative to using water only. That's my humble take on this stone. I like the Zulu and its edges. Not my favorite at this point, but I've been very happy with it. I think it has value.

I also experience problem razors on the Zulu, that when taken to another stone they get corrected. I don't know what it is but I have, like Niell said, experimented with problem razors on the Zulu and have been able to get good edges most of the time. That's how I got to tried the turi slury on it. One razor would not give smooth on the Zulu but it did on the turi, that's how I took the turi to the Zulu (that almost rime) and it turned out to be a hit. Enjoy!

Double O