Third and last test:
The Black Diamond mentioned in the last write-up and a Fromm. Both of these razors had their hollow edges jointed and then bevels brought back on Coticule. Dilucot to clear water and then taken to the Kuro for two slurries.
HHT off both razors post stopping was solid 4's and edges looked clean and uniform under 100Xmag, only a few minor distractions evident.
The shave from these two razors was very good, plenty sharp but not quite as smooth as when using the synthetic stone progression,1K,3K,4K,8K, prior to the Kuro, but somewhat faster using the Coticule.
This method would be good for those that have a Coti and want to finish with a different character to the edge.
I also think that if I had worked the Coti edge refinement say under running water before I took these edges to the Kuro that they would have gained the smoothness of the other methods.
I would say this would be a very good two stone solution for those wanting to limit the # of stones they hone on.
The last edge I honed on this stone was a complete edge restoration for a new straight razor shaver. He had delivered to me a Solingen Krusius Brothers Demon #64. This razor was found in a small antique store in London and came to me with and edge badly micro-chipped and full of bad steel.
I bread-knifed the blade to get to good steel and profile the edge and then my usual synthetic progression to set the bevel and refine on Naniwas 1K,3K,4K,8K.
Two slurries on the Kuro diluting to very light slurry with very light pressure to finish. This edge delivered HHT3-4 off the stone and HHT4 post stropping= Flax linen and Horse butt.
The shave was totally forgiving, not a hint of being tedious, 97% BBS and a .4 on the Alum test. Post shave face feel great, no warming or exfoliation feel whatsoever. Edge could have been 1 notch sharper but I think would have sacrificed the wonderful comfort, and for my beard this was not necessary.
This edge turned in the most comfortable shave of all the edges that I was able to produce using the Kuro.
IMHO this little Kuro makes for a fine finisher, easy to figure out and use, turning in very consistent results and creating edges that can be as sharp as I need and also very very comfortable when that is what you might be after.
The ability to change the character of the edge, with repeatable results, depending on how you manage the finishing techniques, reflects on the stones abilities.
Again I would like to thank Eric for providing this opportunity to test his stone and to all the other testers who worked diligently testing and writing up their findings.
FrankC
The Black Diamond mentioned in the last write-up and a Fromm. Both of these razors had their hollow edges jointed and then bevels brought back on Coticule. Dilucot to clear water and then taken to the Kuro for two slurries.
HHT off both razors post stopping was solid 4's and edges looked clean and uniform under 100Xmag, only a few minor distractions evident.
The shave from these two razors was very good, plenty sharp but not quite as smooth as when using the synthetic stone progression,1K,3K,4K,8K, prior to the Kuro, but somewhat faster using the Coticule.
This method would be good for those that have a Coti and want to finish with a different character to the edge.
I also think that if I had worked the Coti edge refinement say under running water before I took these edges to the Kuro that they would have gained the smoothness of the other methods.
I would say this would be a very good two stone solution for those wanting to limit the # of stones they hone on.
The last edge I honed on this stone was a complete edge restoration for a new straight razor shaver. He had delivered to me a Solingen Krusius Brothers Demon #64. This razor was found in a small antique store in London and came to me with and edge badly micro-chipped and full of bad steel.
I bread-knifed the blade to get to good steel and profile the edge and then my usual synthetic progression to set the bevel and refine on Naniwas 1K,3K,4K,8K.
Two slurries on the Kuro diluting to very light slurry with very light pressure to finish. This edge delivered HHT3-4 off the stone and HHT4 post stropping= Flax linen and Horse butt.
The shave was totally forgiving, not a hint of being tedious, 97% BBS and a .4 on the Alum test. Post shave face feel great, no warming or exfoliation feel whatsoever. Edge could have been 1 notch sharper but I think would have sacrificed the wonderful comfort, and for my beard this was not necessary.
This edge turned in the most comfortable shave of all the edges that I was able to produce using the Kuro.
IMHO this little Kuro makes for a fine finisher, easy to figure out and use, turning in very consistent results and creating edges that can be as sharp as I need and also very very comfortable when that is what you might be after.
The ability to change the character of the edge, with repeatable results, depending on how you manage the finishing techniques, reflects on the stones abilities.
Again I would like to thank Eric for providing this opportunity to test his stone and to all the other testers who worked diligently testing and writing up their findings.
FrankC
