Thread: Testing the New La Lune

I started out with two razors that were both German made although one was a hollow ground and the other was a near wedge. Both in the 11/16 size. I set the bevel on both to be sure I was getting the best results from the hone. The first was the hollow ground razor. I took it up to 10k and under the scope, I could see a very well-polished bevel and straight edge. A fine test subject. For the second razor, I did the same except I took it up to the 20k stone.
I stropped the 20k edge and had a test shave with it. Yep! Just as I like. The razor just wipes the whiskers away with no effort at all. Like a washcloth wiping off dust.

The first razor I went to the La Lune after the 10k edge and made a Slurry. I did about 20 to 25 laps adding a bit of water until it was very close to clear water. BTW, I started with a very thin slurry. At that time I rinsed off the stone and used Balistol and water. I did 12 laps on the oily mixture and cleaned it up. Stropped as usual. Then took the 20k edge and did 20 laps on a light slurry. Stropped as usual.

Razor number one with the 10k/La Lune edge I found about equivalent to an 8k edge. HHT was very low but it was cutting hairs. It shaved but with a little pulling. The 20k/La Lune razor felt like a little more than an 8k edge as it did shave and with a very little pulling. HHT was about the same as the first razor. Still not as smooth or keen as I like. I finished up my shave with this razor. The closeness on my neck is nowhere near what I like, but it shaved. I will have plenty of whiskers to shave tomorrow.

I will need to do some more testing. I'm hoping that after a 20k stone the La Lune on oil with only a few laps might put a bit of comfort in the 20k edge. But I'm also afraid it may just bring the keen level down quickly too.

The color is a little purple and it makes slurry without too much effort. Not as easy as a Cotie or Y/G Thuri but easier than a Dk. Blue Thuri or Zulu.

I did manage to get the label sealed so it's safe forever now. I hope I can find what will make this stone work well for me. Keen is what I enjoy and I've recently figured out how to add an Arkie as a finisher after the 10k. Keeping a level of keen but adding more comfort. Time will tell what I can get out of this stone as a finisher.

Hey Gasman! What does it mean when you say you got the label sealed?

Good write up Jerry and thanks for taking us along for the ride. Good luck with your quest and let us know what you find. I'm eager to hear how that works and is best used.

BTW, welcome to the cult of the Ark. Of all the new edges from new stones I try and think are grand I keep going back to the black or trans and say find it's my favorite, at least with the American steel.

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

Hey Gasman! What does it mean when you say you got the label sealed?

I sprayed a clear coat on the side of the stone where the label is. This way if the label was to get wet (although I was told it's waterproof) it won't get damaged. Here is a picture. You can't see much but the two sides are different colors now. You can see a slight line on the side of the stone about a third of the way down.

I just like to protect hone labels when I can.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I started out with two razors that were both German made although one was a hollow ground and the other was a near wedge. Both in the 11/16 size. I set the bevel on both to be sure I was getting the best results from the hone. The first was the hollow ground razor. I took it up to 10k and under the scope, I could see a very well-polished bevel and straight edge. A fine test subject. For the second razor, I did the same except I took it up to the 20k stone.
I stropped the 20k edge and had a test shave with it. Yep! Just as I like. The razor just wipes the whiskers away with no effort at all. Like a washcloth wiping off dust.

The first razor I went to the La Lune after the 10k edge and made a Slurry. I did about 20 to 25 laps adding a bit of water until it was very close to clear water. BTW, I started with a very thin slurry. At that time I rinsed off the stone and used Balistol and water. I did 12 laps on the oily mixture and cleaned it up. Stropped as usual. Then took the 20k edge and did 20 laps on a light slurry. Stropped as usual.

Razor number one with the 10k/La Lune edge I found about equivalent to an 8k edge. HHT was very low but it was cutting hairs. It shaved but with a little pulling. The 20k/La Lune razor felt like a little more than an 8k edge as it did shave and with a very little pulling. HHT was about the same as the first razor. Still not as smooth or keen as I like. I finished up my shave with this razor. The closeness on my neck is nowhere near what I like, but it shaved. I will have plenty of whiskers to shave tomorrow.

I will need to do some more testing. I'm hoping that after a 20k stone the La Lune on oil with only a few laps might put a bit of comfort in the 20k edge. But I'm also afraid it may just bring the keen level down quickly too.

The color is a little purple and it makes slurry without too much effort. Not as easy as a Cotie or Y/G Thuri but easier than a Dk. Blue Thuri or Zulu.

I did manage to get the label sealed so it's safe forever now. I hope I can find what will make this stone work well for me. Keen is what I enjoy and I've recently figured out how to add an Arkie as a finisher after the 10k. Keeping a level of keen but adding more comfort. Time will tell what I can get out of this stone as a finisher.

I have a vintage Lune and when I tested years ago the lune would improve the edge from a 20k Gokumyo ( I used water only) but a minimal number of strokes had to be used. Say 10-15 max.
This would keep all the loving qualities from the 20k but would bump up keenness a tad.
You never mentioned how the edge looked under the scope after the Lune.
I don't believe slurry is beneficial with the lune especially if you are all ready at a 10k edge.
Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by stoneandstrop

...I don't believe slurry is beneficial with the lune especially if you are all ready at a 10k edge.
Just my opinion.

That's an interesting point. I would be curious to hear how it takes an edge from 4k with slurry though.

I will sometimes go to a Coti for about 10 dry strokes after 12k to take some of the prickliness out but leave the crispness.

Originally Posted by stoneandstrop

I have a vintage Lune and when I tested years ago the lune would improve the edge from a 20k Gokumyo ( I used water only) but a minimal number of strokes had to be used. Say 10-15 max.
This would keep all the loving qualities from the 20k but would bump up keenness a tad.
You never mentioned how the edge looked under the scope after the Lune.
I don't believe slurry is beneficial with the lune especially if you are already at a 10k edge.
Just my opinion.

Thank you for your comment. I will try this next time. Hard to believe minimal strokes on water would bring the keenness up from 20k. I will be looking forward to testing this. This alone would make the buying of the stone worth it.

As far as what the edge looked like under the scope after the La Lune...
I was a little surprised as it had the same look as a Jnat puts on the bevel. Really! No BS. I will have to check this again but this is what I was seeing. Possibly if this was what I was seeing it might actually smooth the edge out more and give more keenness.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

That's an interesting point. I would be curious to hear how it takes an edge from 4k with slurry though.

I will sometimes go to a Coti for about 10 dry strokes after 12k to take some of the prickliness out but leave the crispness.

I'm not sure as i didn't try it.
I find - generally - that using a slurry on a fine finish stone from a relatively coarse start (1-4k) never produces an edge that you can get through a better and thorough progression. Jnats being the exception.
It can certainly be done reasonably well but for me its ALWAYS been better stepping up more gradually.
Some stones are just better for final finish only. As a matter of fact I think all stones have there place and range so trying to get them to work outside that range is rarely beneficial.
Sure, it can be done but never as well. My opinion anyway.
Its why we all keep a number of stones at the bench, they each have a purpose.

Originally Posted by stoneandstrop

I'm not sure as i didn't try it.
I find - generally - that using a slurry on a fine finish stone from a relatively coarse start (1-4k) never produces an edge that you can get through a better and thorough progression. Jnats being the exception.
It can certainly be done reasonably well but for me its ALWAYS been better stepping up more gradually.
Some stones are just better for final finish only. As a matter of fact I think all stones have there place and range so trying to get them to work outside that range is rarely beneficial.
Sure, it can be done but never as well. My opinion anyway.
Its why we all keep a number of stones at the bench, they each have a purpose.

Well,... respectfully, I have to disagree about being able to get a stone to perform past a specific range. The only kind I really know well enough to say my opinion is worth seriously regarding are arks and those I can use 2 or 3 stones (depending on the stones) to go from bevel set to finish, this using stones with different lapping on either side which achieves the effect of 4-6 stones.

Also, from my limited experience I find that using slurry on a slate or Coti takes the potential back much farther than finish only; really back at least as far as mid level.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Well,... respectfully, I have to disagree about being able to get a stone to perform past a specific range. The only kind I really know well enough to say my opinion is worth seriously regarding are arks and those I can use 2 or 3 stones (depending on the stones) to go from bevel set to finish, this using stones with different lapping on either side which achieves the effect of 4-6 stones.

Also, from my limited experience I find that using slurry on a slate or Coti takes the potential back much farther than finish only; really back at least as far as mid level.

I never said it couldn't be done, I said the opposite. It CAN be done but not with the same quality result.
I absolutely agree about slates and Coti's (Escher excluded) The stone at its finest state is not strong enough to get it back efficiantly.
You could go from 1k to finisher given enough strokes on any stone. Many have tried. The one stone fad.
It just doesn't produce the same quality of edge as something worked up.
Again, just my opinion.