Thread: Hone of the Day

A new to me and apparently NOS Henckles Friodur 14. The bevel looked factory, not that flat, so I set the bevel with a Shapton Glass 2k then a Glass 4k, did a half stropping and rested for bevel set. From there, a super fast and super fine probably Aiiwatani with 1200 diamond plate slurry, which is itself quite a good finisher especially with thin tomo slurry or clear water. But the final edge came from ‘ol ugly’ a hard, dense, stupidly fine stone that’s probably a Nakayama, but maybe old school Shobu. Running your hand over this stone is like feeling air, it’s that smooth. Surprisingly, it’s fairly fast on tomo slurry for a hard finisher. The test shave was top notch.

Got a pretty good shave with the ark edges. Leaving the puma how it is and going to focus with just the helje and ark to see how far I can push it.

This WB FBU was getting a bit tuggy on the last shave, so I decided to see how far I could push it on the Greek Vermio. I honed it with 1 layer of tape, and about 150 moderate to light-pressure laps on WD-40, followed up by about 100 strokes in my stropping progression (2 grades of Roo followed by a few finer vintage horse shells to finish). I lathered up with some Wholly Kaw Padre Leone, and got possibly the smoothest shave I've ever had. I couldn't even feel the blade on my face (though I knew how sharp it was by how my finest arm hairs jumped silently off it at tree-top level), and got a total BBS shave on two easy passes.

Gentlemen-this stone warrants much more exploration. I have never gotten edges this smooth off of any other stone, even my beloved Arkies. I would rate its feel and performance somewhere between a hard Thuri and a very fine CNAT-just very easy to use!

I usually work my way through a coticule progression and finish on the Vermio with glycerin and water.

I’ve used WD 40 on the cotis, and will now try it with the Vermio. Neither stone absorbs the liquid and it seems natural to use the same lubricant on both stones.

There was a recent review disputing the finishing quality of the Vermio, but, like you, I’ve been very impressed with how mine finishes and how easy it is to use. For the price, I don’t think you can find a more cost effective finishing stone.

I too have graduated from my coticules to a Vermio. I touch up my lone user on a 6-8 week interval. About 100 x-strokes on very wet lather. Does the WD-40 provide something I'm missing?

Originally Posted by cau

I too have graduated from my coticules to a Vermio. I touch up my lone user on a 6-8 week interval. About 100 x-strokes on very wet lather. Does the WD-40 provide something I'm missing?

Cau and DZEC-I really have no idea, as I haven't tried it with wet lather. I just tried WD-40 because I have had great success with it on my Arkies, and I can't seem to warm up to glycerine or ballistol-both just seem kind of sticky to me. Maybe if I added more water?

That said, I have used wet lather on other naturals with excellent results too-I am certain both give excellent results. Finally, here is a quote from the Griffith Shaving website (I forget the guy's name):
"The Vermio hone is of medium hardness (similar to a harder coticule or dark blue thuringian) and finishes finer than a Thuringian hone in our experience, likely in the 12-15K grit range, with the finest edge being achieved with a light oil or a glycerin and water solution. The stone is non-porous so can be washed of oil and used with water afterwards."

A newly acquired ACE, finished on a hone that I cut and lapped myself.

Now, that is one good looking razor, love that butter scotch, bolsters and inlay, and the stone is gorgeous.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

This WB FBU was getting a bit tuggy on the last shave, so I decided to see how far I could push it on the Greek Vermio. I honed it with 1 layer of tape, and about 150 moderate to light-pressure laps on WD-40, followed up by about 100 strokes in my stropping progression (2 grades of Roo followed by a few finer vintage horse shells to finish). I lathered up with some Wholly Kaw Padre Leone, and got possibly the smoothest shave I've ever had. I couldn't even feel the blade on my face (though I knew how sharp it was by how my finest arm hairs jumped silently off it at tree-top level), and got a total BBS shave on two easy passes.
Gentlemen-this stone warrants much more exploration. I have never gotten edges this smooth off of any other stone, even my beloved Arkies. I would rate its feel and performance somewhere between a hard Thuri and a very fine CNAT-just very easy to use!

Sigh. Here's another rabbit hole for me to go down. I've been looking at picking up a Thuringian to see if I would like it. This post has me looking at these stones now as well.

I found a German site selling these that claims they are a bit harder than a Thuringian. Interesting for sure.

I'll shave with this one tomorrow. It wanted a bit of a refresh and didn't give me any trouble on the stones, nice and quick. I just picked up one of those Kanayama strops and I'll finish that up shortly.