Thread: Hone of the Day

Originally Posted by Phrank

Nice...been taking quite a few razors to the Y/G Escher Barber's Delight, getting the feel for it, Peter found me a perfect Barber's Delight two sides slurry stone, arrived from Germany last week.

What's your routine using the Y/G to finish / refresh a razor...would very much appreciate the info.

Thanks

Sorry for the delayed response Phrank, congratulations on your Barber Delight Escher. They were the most select yellow green Thuringian stones mined for Escher Co. The accompanying slurry stone was usually cut from the same base stone. This helped assure consistent performance. A depleted diamond plate also works well to raise a slurry.



Here is the way I was taught. To final finish on a Escher or high quality thuringian the edge needs to be at a maximum level of keenness. A slurry is raised to aid in cutting to speed the process of refining the edge. If water alone is used at the final finish phase it will take much longer to refine the edge (300+ laps).

Once the slurry mud is raised make 50 to 75 - X strokes with the blade. Spray or dab water on the surface to keep the slurry from drying out. Continue to add water to the slurry mud to reduce viscosity. Do another 50 to 75 - X strokes. Finally finish with water alone and do another 30 to 50 laps. To refresh an edge, do 50 laps w/ light slurry.


There are other strokes to use for final finishing. All require practice and patience. The method described is not new and has worked for many years. Many vintage stones found in the "wild" still had the dried slurry on them. There is a reason for this.

Fun fact: Many natural stones have a layering effect present. Pictured below is a stamped Kato Maruka Nakayama Mizu Asagi with a Barbers Delight Escher. Both stones have been tested extensively. It would be interesting to know how natural stones they were graded in the past.
Mike

Originally Posted by MODINE

Sorry for the delayed response Phrank, congratulations on your Barber Delight Escher. They were the most select yellow green Thuringian stones mined for Escher Co. The accompanying slurry stone was usually cut from the same base stone. This helped assure consistent performance. A depleted diamond plate also works well to raise a slurry.



Here is the way I was taught. To final finish on a Escher or high quality thuringian the edge needs to be at a maximum level of keenness. A slurry is raised to aid in cutting to speed the process of refining the edge. If water alone is used at the final finish phase it will take much longer to refine the edge (300+ laps).

Once the slurry mud is raised make 50 to 75 - X strokes with the blade. Spray or dab water on the surface to keep the slurry from drying out. Continue to add water to the slurry mud to reduce viscosity. Do another 50 to 75 - X strokes. Finally finish with water alone and do another 30 to 50 laps. To refresh an edge, do 50 laps w/ light slurry.


There are other strokes to use for final finishing. All require practice and patience. The method described is not new and has worked for many years. Many vintage stones found in the "wild" still had the dried slurry on them. There is a reason for this.

Fun fact: Many natural stones have a layering effect present. Pictured below is a stamped Kato Maruka Nakayama Mizu Asagi with a Barbers Delight Escher. Both stones have been tested extensively. It would be interesting to know how natural stones they were graded in the past.
Mike

Thank-you very much Mike...just goes to show you....I'm obviously NOT taking my Eschers even close to where I should be taking them.

I was doing maybe 50-60 laps water only after the Nani 12k, never really raised a slurry aside from a few times to try it, and would dilute down to just water usually within 20 laps.

So, going to take a nice Sheffield and follow your advice...300 laps without a slurry, I've never even come close and the edges are still superb....one thing I've read about these stones is that it is very difficult to over hone on them, so I can't wait to see what the results will be using the method you've described.

Mucho appreciated.....