Newly acquired: Escher for the U.S. Marker

Hi All! I found an Escher on eBay...same packaging as many of the Escher pics here on SRP, but in English. :y I am waiting on Howard to get his latest shipment and then he will be shipping me:

1 Cotigura Rubbing Stone
1 Belgian Yellow Coticule Stone - 6" x 2" (150mm x 50mm)
1 Belgian Blue Stone - 6" x 2" (150mm x 50mm)
1 DMT D8E Continuous (x-fine 1200 grit) diamond on 8" x 3" x 3/8" steel plate

The Escher that will be joining this group:

5-7/8" long, 1-1/8" wide, and 5/8" thick

Pics:

Attachment 4282

Attachment 4283

(I only got one stone, the seller had one with and without a box)

So, at the risk of being told "We already answered that here <link>"...will all these stones require lapping? Best practices for doing so? Tips and tricks that might be buried in the threads? For background, I have Lynn's and Bill's CDs, and will be reading as much as I can find here. Also, I trained as a chef, so sharpening blades is not new to me, but this is on a w-h-o-o-o-o-o-l-e new level.

I have blades from JoshEarl and Heavyduty as benchmarks....I will aslo be sending some blades to Lynn for his magic touch and will add them to my benchmarks. I have a beater razor from eBay....so I will start on that once I get everything. Once I finish on the beater, I'll do one other blade (cheap) and then send both around for critique.

As always, guidance, constructive criticism, tip and tricks, and recommendations are gratefully appreciated.

:bow

Greg

Stones from Howard will be lapped - but you can always check with a pencil grid and a figure 8

THe Escher would most likely require work. You can lap with sandpaper progression (e.g. 400, 600, 800 - to 1000 or so) or with a DMT (which is stated ground flat)

Good luck
Ivo

I think you just bought a great hone.

I have an escher this size – even a little smaller – and it's far and away my favorite hone. It's weird, but for me, when I get down even smaller than a 6x2, keeping the razor flat gets easier. The hone is so light in the one hand, that it just responds to and moves with the razor in the other, and the edge and spine just stay flat.

I use this escher like some guys use a Swaty, just right there at the sink when I need a touchup.

Greg,

Wow, you're set for life. :)

I'll jump in and say that your Escher will almost certainly need lapping. Howard may or may not lap the stones he sells--I can't remember for sure.

I really like the DMT 325-grit 8x3 hone for lapping. But you could also get by with some 400-grit sandpaper.

These hones wear slowly, so you won't have to flatten them often. In my opinion, slower hones are also a little more tolerant of being less than 100 percent flat. Several members have reported using natural hones with a slight dish to them. My blue Belgian gets slightly dished between lappings without any noticeable decline in performance. :shrug:

Let us know how you make out!

Josh

Thanks all!

So some 400 garnet paper on a sanding block and I'm good to go? Nice.

Once I start, I will most likely be pestering the honemeisters....sadly, we can't discuss over 1 beers (yes, 1 beers...that's when you just keep refilling the glass)....

Thanks again everyone!!!!

Greg

Use wet/dry sandpaper and a piece of plate glass or mable tile from Home Depot. Wet the sandpaper, stick it to the tile, and lap away. :)

Josh

It looks like you bought the same stones that I used to hone your W&B :tu

I'm waiting on the exact same four items from Howard, except I'm getting the 325 DMT.

Wirebeard,

Did you get the one with or the one without the label? I noticed the one with the label went for half the price of the one without the label (sic)!

They look hardly cupped so you might even get away with using it as is.

I got the one with the label...I attribute the sale to other bidders being distracted by Sunday evening football.....once I get the stone, i will take detailed pics.

Heavyduty - so, the same hone....spooky.

I can't wait....

:y

Greg