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

Wirebeard, the Rabbis who drive up the price of these stones could care less about football. You outbid me for this stone because it is on the small side and the seller IMO is a bit odd. He has offered several stones in the past claiming that they are definately Eschers but without any labels. You can more or less tell if a stone is an Escher once you lap it but this is not definitive. Good Luck!

I'm with you on this one rgdominguez, I was going to bid on this when it was up the first time. Strange how it sold before and is for sale again by the same seller with the same sales pitch. looked dubious to me. I hope Wirebeard got lucky with this one, if not I will send you a barber hone sized Thuringen for free gratis.

PuFF

Nothing wrong with the guy, in my experience. He has sold a number of Eschers before and offers a money back guarantee.

Cheers
Ivo

Ivo, thanks for your comment, it makes me feel better about the guy. Rich.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rgdominguez

Ivo, thanks for your comment, it makes me feel better about the guy. Rich.

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You shouldn't worry about him - Curtis and I have bought from him, as well as other members, iirc

Cheers
Ivo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PuFFaH

I'm with you on this one rgdominguez, I was going to bid on this when it was up the first time. Strange how it sold before and is for sale again by the same seller with the same sales pitch. looked dubious to me. I hope Wirebeard got lucky with this one, if not I will send you a barber hone sized Thuringen for free gratis.

PuFF

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I am not with you on this one. Seller had two hones for sale: simialar size, on with and on without the label. Both were in the picture of both listings but the text was very clear as to which one of the two was the item for sale. He first sold the one without the label: http://cgi.ebay.com/J-G-Escher-1790-...QQcmdZViewItem

and later the one with the label: http://cgi.ebay.com/J-G-Escher-1790-...QQcmdZViewItem

Earlier I wrote that the one without the label went for more money than the one with the label: however, this is not true.

Thats all good news for wirebeard, I,m pleased I don't have to give that Thuringen away for free now :). it's good when other members can reassure buyers of ebay sales they had with the same vendor.

PuFF

Thanks for the offer Puffah - very kind. I think rgdominguez was correct to be suspicious...but I think the seller just reuses the pictures, as he sold one on 9/5 and the label looks torn in the same place.

I checked the feedback - one negative from someone who left eBay after 4 transaction and one corrected negative. Plus, if it is not as promised and there is a problem with a refund eBay and PayPal (+ my bank) offer consumer protection. Once I get the stone, I will post detailed pics of the box an the surfaces (hone-porn!).

Positive feedback from the folks here alleviates any concerns I may have had.

As far as bidding against SRP members, I don't check the other bidders that often or the list of SRP eBay names. It's an auction so fair's fair. However, if you are bidding on something that you have been looking for for ages, PM me....odds are I have not been hunting for the same item...if I have, well then...it's mouse buttons at 50 paces!
:rolleyes:

Thanks for your in put, all.

Greg

Hi All!

I received the hone today, very well packed. It is just about the width of a str8 box and about 1/2 inch shorter. Very dense, med-dark gray stone...feels like basalt or polished slate. Workign surface is extremely smooth - even reflects light a bit. Edns and sides are rougher, displaying some saw marks from the manufacturing process. The label is stuck on the bottom. The adhesion is very old and the paper extremely thin, in keeping with older labeling practices. The label cannot be remve without tearing it.

I will post pics this weekend.

Thanks everyone for your feedbck

Greg