Thread: New Hone - Thuringian from Timber Tools

I know there has been some controversy over the quality of the Thuringian hones from Timber Tools but I bought one a couple of months ago anyway. I actually ordered the smaller Thuringian (not the "new Escher ones") at 8x2x3/4 but they sent me the 10x3x3/4 instead. I let them know that I was happy with the larger stone and was willing to pay the additional cost.


I'm pretty happy with the hone when I compare it to my Naniwa 12K in terms of results. It's significantly harder than the synthetic and requires more laps to finish but I definitely prefer the finish edge off of the Thuringian - it is just as sharp but feels more comfortable on my face. I've been experimenting with it, with slurry, without slurry, varying degrees of slurry and I've hit upon a technique that works for me as a finisher. I touched up a Ralf Aust and a Charles Congreve Sheffield near wedge last night and the shave with the Congreve was silky smooth this morning.

The stone is black to grey-blue colored - I can post a picture later - and I've learned over the last few months that I need about 25 laps with just water for a finisher, spray off any built up slurry, and repeat the process 3 more times. Total of 100 laps with just water, no pressure. Then to a CO pasted piece of felt I use (it has a magnetic back) and 60 laps on my SRD leather strop (I don't strop on linen fresh from the hone).

On the Naniwa 12K I never need more than 25 laps to finish - sometimes less. I find the edge off the Naniwa to be very sharp but not as comfortable. I may try 25 on the Naniwa and then 25 on the Thuringian and see if that turns out to be less work with the same result. Anyone tried that progression?

Anyway - pretty happy with the first natural I've ever purchased. I understand that naturals can be a crap shoot - I guess I got lucky on the first try!

This picture is from the Timber Tools site.



Adam

Originally Posted by aalbina

I know there has been some controversy over the quality of the Thuringian hones from Timber Tools but I bought one a couple of months ago anyway. I actually ordered the smaller Thuringian (not the "new Escher ones") at 8x2x3/4 but they sent me the 10x3x3/4 instead. I let them know that I was happy with the larger stone and was willing to pay the additional cost.


I'm pretty happy with the hone when I compare it to my Naniwa 12K in terms of results. It's significantly harder than the synthetic and requires more laps to finish but I definitely prefer the finish edge off of the Thuringian - it is just as sharp but feels more comfortable on my face. I've been experimenting with it, with slurry, without slurry, varying degrees of slurry and I've hit upon a technique that works for me as a finisher. I touched up a Ralf Aust and a Charles Congreve Sheffield near wedge last night and the shave with the Congreve was silky smooth this morning.

The stone is black to grey-blue colored - I can post a picture later - and I've learned over the last few months that I need about 25 laps with just water for a finisher, spray off any built up slurry, and repeat the process 3 more times. Total of 100 laps with just water, no pressure. Then to a CO pasted piece of felt I use (it has a magnetic back) and 60 laps on my SRD leather strop (I don't strop on linen fresh from the hone).

On the Naniwa 12K I never need more than 25 laps to finish - sometimes less. I find the edge off the Naniwa to be very sharp but not as comfortable. I may try 25 on the Naniwa and then 25 on the Thuringian and see if that turns out to be less work with the same result. Anyone tried that progression?

Anyway - pretty happy with the first natural I've ever purchased. I understand that naturals can be a crap shoot - I guess I got lucky on the first try!

This picture is from the Timber Tools site.



Adam

As far as i remember they had vintage stones stock to some times. The bigger ones do look like the ones actually still sold by MST Schleiftechnik. I know that in general those are no bad stones, but compared to Vintage mined thuringian Stones there is a difference....

This difference is not like having lightyears in between but there is definately a difference in behavior and in feel in my point of view...

However great you like the stone and you come around well with it! Thats what counts the most!

Originally Posted by doorsch

As far as i remember they had vintage stones stock to some times. The bigger ones do look like the ones actually still sold by MST Schleiftechnik. I know that in general those are no bad stones, but compared to Vintage mined thuringian Stones there is a difference....

This difference is not like having lightyears in between but there is definitely a difference in behavior and in feel in my point of view...

However great you like the stone and you come around well with it! Thats what counts the most!

Yes - I've read about the MST stones. I didn't buy the ones that Timber Tools advertises as from the same mine as the venerable Escher mined Thuringians - I'm just not ready to pay that much for a hone yet. I still cruise the antique shops asking about hones hoping to come across a vintage Escher but no luck yet. I'm sure there is a difference but I'm not sure I have enough experience to feel it. I lived in Germany for about 4 1/2 years back in the late 80's early 90's - I should have been looking for hones then but I didn't get into this until much later.

Adam

Originally Posted by aalbina

Yes - I've read about the MST stones. I didn't buy the ones that Timber Tools advertises as from the same mine as the venerable Escher mined Thuringians - I'm just not ready to pay that much for a hone yet. I still cruise the antique shops asking about hones hoping to come across a vintage Escher but no luck yet. I'm sure there is a difference but I'm not sure I have enough experience to feel it. I lived in Germany for about 4 1/2 years back in the late 80's early 90's - I should have been looking for hones then but I didn't get into this until much later.

Adam

For the price they are asking for a 5 3/4" stone you can get a 8" or even a 10" Escher on eBay. You will pay less for a big size Thuringian. Those Timber Tools "Escher" stones used to be $60 a few years ago, mine was not at all like a vintage Escher even if it was advertised as such.

Originally Posted by mainaman

For the price they are asking for a 5 3/4" stone you can get a 8" or even a 10" Escher on eBay. You will pay less for a big size Thuringian. Those Timber Tools "Escher" stones used to be $60 a few years ago, mine was not at all like a vintage Escher even if it was advertised as such.

Yes - I 've seen those on eBay but to be honest, I don't know enough about hones to be able to spot a fake. I worry every time I buy something on eBay that I'm going to get ripped off. With the hone craze since straight razor shaving apparently became "a thing", as my friends say, it seems the prices have just gone through the roof and the scammers have proliferated as they follow the money trend. I figured this route was pretty safe as there is a reputable company that I can call on the phone and complain to if something is not right. Luckily, I'm pretty happy with the hone even though I'm aware that I probably paid too much for it. But my peace of mind does have some value to me - and that was worth the price - to me.

Adam

Originally Posted by aalbina

Yes - I 've seen those on eBay but to be honest, I don't know enough about hones to be able to spot a fake. I worry every time I buy something on eBay that I'm going to get ripped off. With the hone craze since straight razor shaving apparently became "a thing", as my friends say, it seems the prices have just gone through the roof and the scammers have proliferated as they follow the money trend. I figured this route was pretty safe as there is a reputable company that I can call on the phone and complain to if something is not right. Luckily, I'm pretty happy with the hone even though I'm aware that I probably paid too much for it. But my peace of mind does have some value to me - and that was worth the price - to me.

Adam

You are not going to find a fake Escher/Thuringian simply because the appearance can't be fabricated. Rocks of particular types look in a particular way and nothing can change that. if in doubt you can PM some folks on the forum for opinion.