I received a fifth one to test today, same as the prior four it stalls before I can max it out. I'm done trying to figure them out.
Imperia La Rocca 12 - 15k; Take # 2.
- Thread starter eKretz
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Ok, for any who are following along, I just finished up my next test shave. I used four razors for this test - (1) a control (this was the stone owner's razor I PIF honed on my black translucent Ark) (2) the 2k to ILR glycerine slurry razor, (3) a fresh razor taken to 8k and then honed on the ILR with glycerine slurry and (4) the 2k to 5k to ILR on water & glycerine.
The first edge I tried was the #4 - 2k,5k,ILR water & glycerine. This one pulled as soon as I started my WTG pass, so it was abandoned.
Next I compared (2) & (3). These were pretty much indistinguishable both WTG and ATG in a quick test. I settled on (3) and used it to finish up the right side WTG. This edge seemed plenty keen, but needed the spine to be slightly elevated to get a close shave. Once it was elevated a bit, it cut pretty cleanly and fairly closely WTG.
Next I shaved with the control Ark-honed razor on the left side. This was sublime. Perfect smooth and close WTG shave even with the razor spine flat on my face. I am reminded every time I use this stone how much I love a good Ark edge.
After this I went back to the right side with #3 to finish up ATG. The neck area went fairly well as long as the stone was kept dead flat against my skin. Any areas that needed a little spine lift to get stubborn areas were a bit uncomfortable, but livable. Same with the cheek. Alum sting 2/10.
Going back to the right side with the control Ark-honed razor again for the ATG work resulted in an extremely close and comfortable shave. Any slightly stubborn areas that required a bit of spine lift on this side were no problem at all, resulting in zero discomfort. Alum sting 0.5/10.
Again I find that the ILR gives me a serviceable shave, but not up to snuff with the stones I consider top notch. These would be stones such as properly prepped Arks, good JNats, Vosgienne, Kuro, good Apache Strata, Escher/Thuris, good coticules, so on and so forth.
One redeeming grace of the stone is that it seems quite capable of following a bevel setter and producing a decent shaving edge on just slurry. So far I don't care for the water edges at all, with glycerine or without. Perhaps though I asked too much of the stone to follow a 5k. I will be doing one more test with an edge taken through 8k then brought to the ILR on water/glycerine.
The first edge I tried was the #4 - 2k,5k,ILR water & glycerine. This one pulled as soon as I started my WTG pass, so it was abandoned.
Next I compared (2) & (3). These were pretty much indistinguishable both WTG and ATG in a quick test. I settled on (3) and used it to finish up the right side WTG. This edge seemed plenty keen, but needed the spine to be slightly elevated to get a close shave. Once it was elevated a bit, it cut pretty cleanly and fairly closely WTG.
Next I shaved with the control Ark-honed razor on the left side. This was sublime. Perfect smooth and close WTG shave even with the razor spine flat on my face. I am reminded every time I use this stone how much I love a good Ark edge.
After this I went back to the right side with #3 to finish up ATG. The neck area went fairly well as long as the stone was kept dead flat against my skin. Any areas that needed a little spine lift to get stubborn areas were a bit uncomfortable, but livable. Same with the cheek. Alum sting 2/10.
Going back to the right side with the control Ark-honed razor again for the ATG work resulted in an extremely close and comfortable shave. Any slightly stubborn areas that required a bit of spine lift on this side were no problem at all, resulting in zero discomfort. Alum sting 0.5/10.
Again I find that the ILR gives me a serviceable shave, but not up to snuff with the stones I consider top notch. These would be stones such as properly prepped Arks, good JNats, Vosgienne, Kuro, good Apache Strata, Escher/Thuris, good coticules, so on and so forth.
One redeeming grace of the stone is that it seems quite capable of following a bevel setter and producing a decent shaving edge on just slurry. So far I don't care for the water edges at all, with glycerine or without. Perhaps though I asked too much of the stone to follow a 5k. I will be doing one more test with an edge taken through 8k then brought to the ILR on water/glycerine.
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I have used mine (a 12-15K ILR) mostly after my Shapton 12K (which is on a different scale and thus more like a 10K). I find it to bring a smoother feel than the Shapton.
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How many laps are you doing after the 12k? I suppose I could do a double - one razor post 8k and one post 12k. Might do to add an edge finished on the 12k alone also, just for comparison.
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I would like to see a photo of all five of them.
They are back with their owners.
That's convenient.
Multiply your post count by 1000 in relevant and insightful posts and I may start taking photos. Ask kcb5150 how many pictures I've take of the many hones he's sent me to test, I'll save you the trouble, zero.
We are done here-
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