Thread: Hone of the Day

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

The hone gods have smiled on me lately, and over the course of three days I found these hones locally, and dirt cheap. In each case I didn't know exactly what I had until I brought them home and cleaned them up. The coticule and the thuringian I bought as part of a box of dirty hones out of someone's garage and the Tam-O-Shanter and Water of Ayr I found at an antiques market two days later just sitting together in a coffee can on one of the tables.


I just got the chance to try them out tonight on a Wade & Butcher that had been tugging lately. I lightly killed the edge and set a new bevel on the coti with slurry, diluting as I progressed. I could tell that the coticule is going to be an excellent finisher and was tempted to go the distance. This one feels really great!

But before I went to far on the coti I switched to the Tam with straight water. It was my first time using a Tam-o-Shanter. I found that I either needed to go a little further on the coti with slurry, or slurry the Tam, so I slurried the Tam for a while then diluted.

Then I tried out the Water of Ayr (first time for this type of hone too). I instantly fell in love with the silky feedback. I stayed on that for a while and I could have had a wonderful shave finishing there I think. But I wanted to bring the thuri into it so I spent a little while on that stone with a very light slurry, then clear.

I couldn't wait until the morning so I just had a go with it and am very pleased! A nice comfortable, close shave without irritation, a great feel to the edge. I will do more experiments with these hones in the coming days. I want to feel the shave off the coticule (what a terrific feel this one has!) and also straight off the Water of Ayr. Happy honing, gentlemen!

Try finishing on the WoA

After a Nani 12k, or some higher grit finisher, finish on the WoA...I think the stone is one of the nicest out there. For me, was a very light, crisp, uber smooth shave, with a strong hint of the Escher "mellow" in it if I could make the comparison.

I've also gone ToS then WoA and also had great results.....congrats on some great finds.

I can see the "rivers" on the WoA, total giveaway for a WoA....awesome find.