Thread: Zulu grey question

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Only 25 shaves and it needs a touch up ? Not to be critical but it sounds like you need to spend more time learning the strop before moving to a stone ?

Man I think 25 shaves are great before a little touch up is needed.

Using the Zula myself I've noticed 30 laps has been great for me. My first 20 I use very light pressure and those last 10 I'm using no pressure at all just the waight of the blade.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

It requires high numbers when stepping off a 8k, but touching up a rotation razor is a different approach, IMO.

Somebuddy should write a book... so many details and nuances.

Not sure there is any logic when it comes to natural hones. I have a Zulu and mostly follow the recommendations of the man who quarries them. I've tried to dilute to water from the extra fine DMT card and at some point I would lose contact with the stone so to speak. I dilute just enough to keep the razor moving, and keep a light slurry. But whatever you do, don't stop here, keep reading and keep working at your hones. 'Logical step down the grit chain' sounds good for synthetics. Good luck. Pay special attention to guys, not like me, who have start dates that go back aways.

Originally Posted by Wxman2000

I have the Zulu and a coticule to use. The edge was new and honed by Lynn at Christmas, it probably has 15-20 shaves on it is all. Just didn't think I'd need to go to the coticule yet, so I thought the Zulu slurry would be a logical step down the grit chain.

Sometimes we have to be able to tell the difference between wanting a touch up and needing a touch up. I think you are spot on with the stropping idea.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Only 25 shaves and it needs a touch up ? Not to be critical but it sounds like you need to spend more time learning the strop before moving to a stone ?

I never count on my stones, I only count on stropping because someone talked me into doing 100 laps on leather and I know if I don't count I'll cheat like hell. BTW, as with everything that has come from this nameless mentor....it was excellent advice.

I'm pretty sure stropping isn't the issue. I've been at it for about 1.5 years now and for the first year, I kept one razor going with strops and pastes before needing a touch up. I'm just trying to avoid the pastes if possible.

Originally Posted by Wxman2000

So my ralf Aust razor was beginning to pull a bit and I decided to give it a go on the Zulu grey. Since the edge hasn't dropped off too much yet, I went with water only for about 150 laps. Shaved with it again and I didn't notice any difference in the edge at all. It was pulling a bit just like it did before.

Is this where I should try a little slurry on the Zulu, then go to the 80-150 laps on water after that? Thanks

Do you have two lapped sides or only one. I know when I got my zulu (first natural) I was hesitant to do anything on the surface. But with some reading and new found courage, I started to experiment with it. Best thing I did!

I recommend to take one side and lapp it with the DMT 325, rinse and try with water. If that doesn't do anything, try with a little light slurry raised with the DMT and dilute every 15-20 laps to water. Test on arm hair or HHT test, or whatever you're using, and if it improves, go to the smooth side and do some more laps on that and try the shave test.

All naturals vary from one to another it's up to the user to find out how to get the most on that specific stone. Keep reading, experiment and don't give up. Don't get another stone until you have tried everything with that one. It's my best advice to you! Double O

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Only 25 shaves and it needs a touch up ? Not to be critical but it sounds like you need to spend more time learning the strop before moving to a stone ?

Well. That depends upon your maintenance philosophy. It's true that we can get 100 shaves and more from an edge with proper stropping but, rather than put up with a slowly degrading edge for that long, I prefer to perform a maintenance touch up every half dozen shaves. I'll give it a few very light strokes on whatever stone was used to finish that particular blade and it's good to go. I have razors that have not had a real touch up in the ten years or so since I adopted this regimen, The two advantages of doing this are:

1) I am always shaving with close to the best edge possible for that blade and..

2) I get to use the stones more often!

Now, if I could just figure out how to make my beard grow faster so I could shave more often..


rs,
Tack

Originally Posted by Double0757

Do you have two lapped sides or only one. I know when I got my zulu (first natural) I was hesitant to do anything on the surface. But with some reading and new found courage, I started to experiment with it. Best thing I did!

I recommend to take one side and lapp it with the DMT 325, rinse and try with water. If that doesn't do anything, try with a little light slurry raised with the DMT and dilute every 15-20 laps to water. Test on arm hair or HHT test, or whatever you're using, and if it improves, go to the smooth side and do some more laps on that and try the shave test.

All naturals vary from one to another it's up to the user to find out how to get the most on that specific stone. Keep reading, experiment and don't give up. Don't get another stone until you have tried everything with that one. It's my best advice to you! Double O

One sided but I think the other side is darn close to being flat. So it should be able to be lapped and usable.