Thread: Thuringian

Where does a thuringian fall into the honing porcess? Is it a BBW, Coticule , for something seperate still?

Kevin

It's generally a finishing stone and final polisher, unless you have something more expensive! Like coticules, they can be used with and without a slurry stone.
FYI, Eschers are a company brand name for stones from the Thuringian region of Germany. All Eschers are Thuringians but not all Thuringians are Eschers.

A Thuringian is a natural hone harvested in Thuringen, Germany. A very famous brand of Thuringians is Esher. That particular mine is closed and the vintage ones sell for big bucks.
They have a reputation for being very excellent hones for edge finishing. The thuringians themselves have a slightly lesser reputation, but are still considered absolute top quality hones.

Except for being natural, Thuringians are not related to Coticule and Belgian Blue Whetstones.

Someone with more knowledge about them, will soon chime in, I'm sure.
[edit: he even beat me to it]
Best regards,
Bart.

What Utopian and Bart said is on the money. I have more experience with Eschers than with Thuringans as I have four variations of the former and only one of the latter but I will say that IME following a Norton 4/8 or a blue/yellow coticule the Escher leaves me with a very comfortably sharp shaving edge. Whether the Eschers are worth the added cost of being a collectible as well as a tool is up to the individual. I'm very happy to have mine.

I have a Thuringen stone as well and I would describe it as OK. I don't think it's as good as my Eschers, but probably on par with my Coticules. Not a bad stone to have.

I have been experimenting with it lately as well as with my Eschers and Nakayama and a Chinese 12K for that matter using similar techniques introduced recently with the Coticule to see how just using one of these stones works from start to finish on a blade that does not need any real restoration. More on that later.

Have fun,

Lynn

Lynn, I was writing this while you were responding to the original post. Thanks.

O.K. As I'm interpreting, it follows the bevel setting and sharpening i.e. Norton 4/8, Belgian BBW/Coti, Shapton applicable stones, etc. It is used in lieu of a chinese 12000, Shapton 16000 yellow coti and others to finish off the edge?

I understand c12k's are really hard and slow. How do these compare?

Kev

To me they are a lot like the Coticule and Escher. Of the three, the Escher has always been the most consistent finisher for me. I really think you can shave off any of them, but still find either the .5 diamond or chromium oxide takes some of the bite off and makes the shave feel like it has a little more glide to it.

Lynn

I only have 3 Thuringian type hones, but I would rate them as a bit finer than a coticule...sort of: see below.



I think they impart a finer feeling edge, and I rate the Thuringian-types as a bit sharper, but still a little more forgiving.

UNLESS you do a bunch of passes on a fine coticule with water only, (I get best results under a slow dribble under the faucet as I finish-hone).

When using the water-dribble finish honing technique on both types, and I compare the two edges side by side, I say the coticule is smoother on the face, just not quite as "deadly-sharp" feeling.


Sometimes, it depends on the razor too, so may variables.

Hope that makes sense.

Originally Posted by Lynn

I have a Thuringen stone as well and I would describe it as OK. I don't think it's as good as my Eschers, but probably on par with my Coticules. Not a bad stone to have.

Lynn, I know you have or at lest have used several Eschers and probably on more razors than anybody else, do you find color-related variations, or they're all pretty close to each other and distinctly different than the coticules/non-escher branded thuringians.

Speaking of thuringians, I believe there are the currently sold ones that are cut by Muller from old blocks and there are some vintage ones (sold in the past). I think some people believe there is distinct difference between them, have you noticed such, if you've tried some of both.

For me, not a significant difference in the Escher's, but I like the darker colored ones better. The older Thuringen's are a lot like these. The newer ones again are not significantly different. It is amazing how just a little difference however, in stones or media, make a noticeable difference when shaving(maybe not huge, but noticeable). Everyone's preference, feel, etc, also comes into play. It's a great sport!

Lynn