Thread: Using my first Thuringian Hone

Well I finally got one, a very pretty blue and green Thuringian water stone. Sourced from the venerable Hatzicho.
I just wanted to share my first journey with this lovely rock.


Here it is after lapping and wetting. Was a few uneven spots when I lapped it not much really. I never realized how easy they are to lap with a DMT 325. Nice texture smooth silky feel.

Ok gave it a once over with the rubbing stone to produce a little slurry.

Now I took my least favorite shaver, my nemesis the Dovo 6/8 best Swedish Steel that came in a box marked made in West Germany. I'm wondering still if this was NOS or do they still mark them that way. I digress, so I took my Naniwa 12K my standard finisher and refreshed the Dovo beastie until I thought I had it pretty tree topping sharp.

Ok now to hone it on the Thuri after raising a slurry I decided for lack of any experience to do about 30 careful laps on with the slurry. added water along the way and did about 20 or so more and finished 20 more without any slurry just water. And the edge turned into this.

Very interesting I thought. Well now of course as so many have recommended, to just strop on plain leather and take it to the shave den. My normal routine after the naniwa would of been to hit it on crox linen and then leather strop as normal. I never really liked the shave off the naniwa directly I find it a bit harsh and irritating although it cuts whiskers very well at the expense of my comfort.

After 50 Laps on Latigo strop.

Now I shaved with it. Interesting experience there was no pulling at all it cut whiskers with ease I did not detect any discomfort at all and it drove me to shave in a little more aggressive manner. I felt as if the blade would not cut me I don't know how to explain it really but no matter how I cruised the blade around my face it inspired a sort of confidence kind of like I wasn't really shaving with a sharp razor but in fact it was doing everything it was supposed to and I got a really close shave. I usually get this sort of feeling shaving with wedges but never with a full hollow they always feel dangerous haha, but this time it felt tame and nice. I can see why these stones are a cherished thing in the shaving world. I hope I got the right experience. I enjoyed it never the less and of course will take this stone to my whole collection to get some more impressions. Comments or any help using this stone welcome.

Happy Shaving!