Thread: How do you use a Frankonian?

My Frankonian from Olivia came lapped and ready to use. It´s a great stone, but it´s extremely hard and (compared to the coticules, I normally use…) slow on water. Olivia (that´s not her real name, I think) put a little extra piece of frankonian in my parcel, but it is nearly impossible to create slurry with it (It would take me aeons, i guess). She gave me the tip, that I should lap the surface, when it has become too glassy (and looking at my "slurry Stone", that I rubbed on the hone, I can tell you that it might look polished after years of use; no idea how long that would take).

I use it with water only. I have no DMT to create slurry, dunno how good it works. I strongly suggest, not to touch the honing surface. You shouldn´t do that on any hone, but on this one, even the slightest touch results in a spot where the hone doesn´t hold water whatsoever.

When I use my Frankonian, I normally use an extra layer of tape to create a second micro bevel. This way, I can speed up the whole process.

I hope, this helps a bit.

Happy honing,
tok

The Frankonian I got from Olivia was indeed lapped but finished to ~320, only. It did work, but it got considerably smoother after finishing the flattening with a finer sandpaper like 600.

You do not need a DMT (especially the ones from Olivia, watch out, thesee are very small for lapping purposes).
Buy a couple of sheets of wet dry sandpaper in 320, 400 and 600. Read the lapping 101 in the Wiki and you should be good to go.

Be warned, the Frankonian is very, very fine indeed. Tok´s advice with the micro bevel is good.

I used a dmt card "fine" for slurry creation on the Frankonian.
It works and makes it considerably faster but I found it to be a lot coarser with slurry, as well.
But you might want to check that out for yourself. If you want to try it,
buy a cheap DMT card in fine...

I don't think you would have to worry about over honing on the frankonian. Interestingly enough in Moler's barber manual (1920s) he says that you can overhone on a coticule but that the German water hones are great for beginner's because you cannot over hone. As hi_bud_gl will tell you, for best results with that hone, use it to finish/polish an already sharp .... i.e. shave ready razor.

I'll add that there may be discrepancies between different samples of Frankonian. Olivia's site says to use it after an 'Escher,' while the majority of people I've spoken to about it have told me the Escher is superior. Having never tried one myself I do not know.

Originally Posted by Scipio

I'll add that there may be discrepancies between different samples of Frankonian. Olivia's site says to use it after an 'Escher,' while the majority of people I've spoken to about it have told me the Escher is superior. Having never tried one myself I do not know.

Mine is definitely not better than Escher, it is in the 8k range.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Mine is definitely not better than Escher, it is in the 8k range.

I knew they were coarser than 'Eschers,' I didn't know they were that coarse! I say Eschers in inverted punctation, as they are not all equal, but they are far more consistent than any other naturals that I have tried.

I was at one point very tempted and was seriously considering purchasing a Frankonian, mainly due to Olivia's suggestion that they should be used after the Escher, which is virtually verbatim from her website. While she is a pleasure to deal with, having sampled her beautifully scented bath soaps on several occasions, I subsequently won an Escher and due to recommendations from fellow rock hounds here on SRP, I felt as though buying one would likely be an exercise in futility.

I still feel the desire to run a razor across one, just to sample that feeling, but it is an expensive price to pay, especially when members here lack unanimity as to their properties. I paid the price simply to do so with a Water of Ayr, a rare finishing hone from Scotland, and was hardly impressed. Maybe Frankonians are like the PHIG -a kinder surprise in the sense that you just never know what you're going to get.

Originally Posted by Scipio

I knew they were coarser than 'Eschers,' I didn't know they were that coarse! I say Eschers in inverted punctation, as they are not all equal, but they are far more consistent than any other naturals that I have tried.

I was at one point very tempted and was seriously considering purchasing a Frankonian, mainly due to Olivia's suggestion that they should be used after the Escher, which is virtually verbatim from her website. While she is a pleasure to deal with, having sampled her beautifully scented bath soaps on several occasions, I subsequently won an Escher and due to recommendations from fellow rock hounds here on SRP, I felt as though buying one would likely be an exercise in futility.

I still feel the desire to run a razor across one, just to sample that feeling, but it is an expensive price to pay, especially when members here lack unanimity as to their properties. I paid the price simply to do so with a Water of Ayr, a rare finishing hone from Scotland, and was hardly impressed. Maybe Frankonians are like the PHIG -a kinder surprise in the sense that you just never know what you're going to get.

Based on what others have said and my experience, frankonians definitely vary in quality. The one I have is pretty good for tools and knives so it is still useful.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Based on what others have said and my experience, frankonians definitely vary in quality. The one I have is pretty good for tools and knives so it is still useful.

I'm sending mine to Dylan so he can tell me what it tastes like...........

Ha! He is never going to live down that thread.

Originally Posted by Lynn

I'm sending mine to Dylan so he can tell me what it tastes like...........

careful too much Frankoninan is bad for your health