Thread: Working With The Zulu Grey.

I've been discussing the Zulu with a few of the members this past week, so I thought I would open a thread where you can comment on your experiences with the Zulu Grey & the honing routine that you apply when using it.

My thoughts on the Zulu Grey.

Recently I purchased a Zulu Grey. My desire to purchase this stone was based on past experience with it. This experience was a 4 month period last year when I borrowed a Zulu from Double0757. I used the Zulu to touch up razors in my rotation. Those razors had been finished on coticules, Shapton 16K & a PHIG. Each of these razors provided wonderful shaves for me. I was mainly curious to see if the Zulu would improve on the current finished edges that these razors had. The Zulu did improve the edges, giving me an even more enjoyable shave.
The routine to touch up these edges was a simple one. I used 80 to 110 light strokes on the Zulu with water only. Note: I refresh the face of my Zulu with a DMT 1200 every 20 strokes, yes a PITA, but I want a fresh surface. I refresh all my finishers in this manner. Stropping is done with a Neil Miller, shell cordovan & genuine linen; 60 linen &80 shell cordovan.

Taking advantage of the niceoffer that Michael (MichaelC) recently gave buyers, I jumped on chance to purchase a Zulu. The Zulu arrived a week ago. I took 4 vintage razors & started testing my new Zulu. The razors were a Morrow Thomas Hardware Company Barber’s Pride, a Kirlex King’s Crown, an unknown brand razor (I can hardly see the stamp) & a Maher & Grosh Trusty Razor. The grinds were half or full hollows.


The first three had the bevels reset with a Norton 1k, then followed by a Norton 4k, 8k & finished with the Zulu (110 light strokes with water only) , stropped as stated above. Shave tested. The result was poor with each razor, post alum burn also. After which,I evaluated the razors with magnification, 20 X loop & 60-100 x magnifier there was little, to no change, in the condition of the edges after leaving the Norton 8k.

Prior to this first test, I had been reading & talking with a couple of members who stated that their Zulu may have left them at the 8k level or even set the edge back before an 8k level. This bothered me, because this was not the experience that I had enjoyed with the borrowed Zulu last year; also I had just been disappointed with a 3 razor test on my new Zulu.

While my whiskers grew for the next test, 36 hours later, I studied the situation. Then a fact occurred to me that my experience last year with the Zulu, involved razors that had already been brought to shave ready status by other finishers, these razors had their edges improved on & refreshed by the Zulu. None of the razors that I had used last year had taken a Zulu straight from the 8K.

With the same first three razors,I revisited the Norton 4k to remove the higher edge obtained in the first test.Then went to the 8k & evaluated under magnification. I took two of the razors & applied 50 pressure strokes on the Zulu with a damp surface only,no standing water; then 80 light strokes on damp surface. The result was a close comfortable shave, no post alum burn.
The third razor, I placed theS hapton 16k between the Norton 8k & the Zulu. 50 normal to light strokes on the Shapton 16k (to me a fast cutter/finisher) then 80 light strokes on the damp Zulu. Result was a close comfortable shave, no post alum burn.

Tonight I took the fourth razor,the Maher & Grosh, removed the edge by working the Norton 4k, then worked the 8k, then I slurryed the Zulu (with the Zulu slurry stone provided) 2 sets of 50 pressure strokes, then 80 (no slurry) light strokes on a damp Zulu. The result was a nice comfortable, close shave with no post alum burn.

What I learned is, this Zulu is a hard stone, equal to or harder than my PHIG.

It is a slow cutter.

The jump from 8k to Zulu is a large one, much larger than I thought it would be. I suspect that this is the main reason why some are believe that the Zulu set them back, but I feel that the Zulu probably never left the 8k level with the routine they were using. I can jump from an 8k, to a comfortable nice, smooth shave, with only 40 light strokes on a Shapton 16k. This is not happening with a Zulu.

If you’re planning to use the Zulu as a sole finisher, post an 8k, then the gap from 8k to Zulu finish has to be filled/bridged with something similar to the pressure strokes routine or the slurry routines that I mentioned above. At least this is how I reached the comfortable shaves I got.

Magnification was critical for me in finding the solution to my Zulu as a sole finisher.

The Zulu Grey brought 4 vintage blades to nice comfortable close shaves; I can only imagine what it can do to a new razor or NOS vintage razor.

IMO, the Zulu Grey is a fine finisher & I look forward to using her again.

Sorry if the post is long, but I hope it helps someone who is struggling with their new Zulu.