My grandfather had some stones that looked and sounded EXACTLY like that one. He was born in 1902 and said he got them from a rock quarry in Oklahoma when he was a boy. He had some bench sized stones but mostly used a pocket sized one he carried EVERYWHERE! He never used water on them, but just spit on them. No clue what type of rock it was, I always assumed it was some sort of slate. He taught me to sharpen knives on those stones. It’s been so long that I don’t remember what kind of edge they gave.
@GADZAR12 жыл бұрын
I appretiate your willingness to share your findings. I was about to buy this stone but something told me it was something weird with it. I saw a video of some guy talking marvels about imperia la roccia and the same guy appeared at their site! Surprising. So I decided to not buy the stone and make some research about this stone and then i found your video. Thank you very much for your work.
@KeithVJohnson12 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching and commenting!
@Razorlovestones8 жыл бұрын
Thank for the vid Keith and a valuable Information about the properties of those stones....never believed any hype on those...
@KeithVJohnson12 ай бұрын
Happy Honing!
@montysmith27539 жыл бұрын
This was a very awesome video. Full of great information. Thank you for taking the time (at the expense of your blades) to review this stone. I've been searching for another stone. A finisher, One a little bigger than the JNAT I purchased from you. With these videos I've been able to dial in my search. Thank you for saving me the extra money and time it would take with my limited knowledge. Not to mention saving my sons face from the trial and errors of testing. I do this for him. He has an eclectic taste that intrigues me to broaden my search for knowledge. Your videos aid with this. I'll be doing a little trial with a Gila once they become available again. Due to your review. Thank you again I can't say that enough. Monty
@KeithVJohnson12 ай бұрын
Happy Honing!
@Itsmytupperwarelife7 жыл бұрын
Excellent write up. (video) I appreciate your approach, and that you covered all angles and options to using the stone before rendering your verdict. So we have an expensive book-end.
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
Hello! Thank you for watching and the kind words also!
@johnsharkey32516 жыл бұрын
Great video Mr Johnson, as always you delve into the micro of both rock and razor, and come back with the real dope. Thanks, for sharing Cheers
@KeithVJohnson16 жыл бұрын
Hey John, thanks for watching and the kind words too!
@Greyswyndir3 жыл бұрын
Did someone say real dope, where? Sorry, I used to wonder the city streets and four in the morning, I was triggered.
@richardstrouth23596 жыл бұрын
Thank you for doing this. I just bought an ILR stone because Dr. Matt said this was a good stone. Your video show it is not. I wish I would of seen this before yesterday. Your scientific approach of using this stone then showing the results under your microscope certainly was telling. Keep going and helping us newbees.
@KeithVJohnson16 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching and commenting!
@garythornbury97935 жыл бұрын
you have no question return for 1 year from date of purchase, you can send it back--you have only lost the cost of shipping
@KeithVJohnson15 жыл бұрын
@@garythornbury9793 losing $10 in shipping pales in comparison to the loss of time and effort invested in lapping it, along with the time and effort invested in making the edges it kills.
@garythornbury97935 жыл бұрын
@@KeithVJohnson1 bullshit
@peterjackson74733 жыл бұрын
@@garythornbury9793 F*cked if I know. I purchased an ILR from a guy on e-bay and it gives me edges like a light saber when I use the Dr's method.
@michaelorsini96956 жыл бұрын
I get a great edge off this stone and it's really pretty easy to achieve...but as always YMMV.
@KeithVJohnson16 жыл бұрын
Mike Orsini just because the same name is on the box doesn’t mean the same stone is inside the box. Several people tried the stone in this video and nobody got a shaving edge. I may try another one of these another day to see if thete is any difference, but I suspect it’ll be the same story as the Chinese hones.
@JDStone209 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately, a lot of people want something for nothing, and on top of that, they will see what they want to see, never mind just regular old biased observation. I got a Dragon's Tounge hone that came with a set of quartered Norton combination stones, and I use the slate for knives every once in a while, it cuts slow and is dense, hard, but easy to gouge, and I would estimate it at 6-8k, and have seen reviews and praises, then when experienced people get a hold of one, and give their findings, people get upset. Go figure. Nice work, that's a lot of work to go through, but it's better to know than have a question, if you ask me.
@KeithVJohnson12 ай бұрын
Happy Honing!
@KeithVJohnson12 ай бұрын
Happy Honing!
@richcollins34904 жыл бұрын
I had a similar problem with bad edges. Very frustrating when you spend time getting your razor edge close to finished then ruining at the very end. Thanks, l thought it was only me that had this problem.
@KeithVJohnson14 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and commenting Rich; with this stone, no, it's not you. Not at all.
@marcoc36893 жыл бұрын
I was buying it but I read a lot of negative comments so I bought a Naniwa 12000, because there are no easy alternative
@JamminGIJames329 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Keith :) well put information!
@KeithVJohnson12 ай бұрын
Happy Honing!
@JamesGKeeganJr8 жыл бұрын
Great, thorough video review, Keith. Exceptionally well done. Bravo.
@KeithVJohnson18 жыл бұрын
Thanks James.
@samla2404 Жыл бұрын
Mr. Keith, what type of Loupe portable Microscope are you using. I’ve tried several mostly from Amazon and I have not been satisfied so far. Kindly looking forward to your answer thanks 😊
@KeithVJohnson1 Жыл бұрын
Most of the time I use a 4x photography loupe made by Schneider, long out of production. Typically, that is all I ever really need. My microscope is an Olympus BHM.
3 ай бұрын
friggin great video
@KeithVJohnson12 ай бұрын
Thank you! Happy Honing!
@RobertOrtiz10159 жыл бұрын
Like always... Thanks great video I had this video... Finished a couple of razors and i didnt like it and sold ASAP... I found my old cnat better... Perhaps i was lucky with the cnat and unlucky with the ILR... Who knows... Again thanks
@RobertOrtiz10157 жыл бұрын
Its a natural... not even 2 ILRs are the same. Perhaps mine wasn't as good. I had a suehiro 20k and i sold it as well. Great stone but not for me and my edge preference. Thats the same with ILR... just not what i liked on my edges. Might be great for others
@RobertOrtiz10157 жыл бұрын
Over 300$ for post finishing stone... hard to justify when a nice jnat has a huge range and speed. I have a video on a small s20k... those are about 80$ and go great after a 12 k or 15k
@RobertOrtiz10157 жыл бұрын
I agree... i always wonder how much money difference there is between manufacturing a 1k vs 12k and 20k... especially when its the same brand and model... using same bonding!
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
Depends on your approach to making the hone. You can buy Alox of one type cheap and another type that is very expensive but both could be called 12k. And - the expensive stuff can get ridiculously expensive once you start tightening up the PSD specs. At some point you hit the wall known as diminishing returns but there's always another level and another price bracket on the horizon. You may be able to use the same binders and the same percentages of binder to abrasive but you will probably have to change a good part of the set up and finish - so lets say you have a 1k that took you 4 hr to create from start to finish, the 12k in that line might need 10x the amount of effort/time in-process. Plus, you may wind up losing a greater percentage of the pieces along the way.... So while you can make a 1k and a 12k for essentially the same amount of money, chances are..like, 9 out of 10 times - if you're doing it commercially and you want to make something worth talking about, your 12k is going to cost exponentially more than your 1k.
@RobertOrtiz10157 жыл бұрын
I totally can see that
@Tallnerdyguy5 жыл бұрын
I would rather sleep on a bed without nails, but thank you for magnification of the blade, definitely staying away from these.
@knightingalesaid3 жыл бұрын
I have a question. I use a 4000, 8000, 12,000 wet stones. And a stone leveler to keep the stones flat. After honing on the 12000 grit the razor is sharp like a knife but not razor sharp. If I run the edge about a 1/4" above my skin on my arm. It will cut about 8% of the hair. I need to get to the next level. I don't use slurry stones. Do I need a higher grit stone or what type of slurry stone etc? Thanks for your channel.
@KeithVJohnson13 жыл бұрын
Impossible to say, there are too many potential variables in the equation.
@zenrazor659 Жыл бұрын
You are not the first to says it causes scratches! I saw other 2 video ( Dr. MATTand avenrures in shaving) where they use it ti prive rhe stone is ok! But yiur video seems to invalidate all! Please what miscroscope did you use? I would like to see if I can buy it Tjanks for the video🎉
@KeithVJohnson1 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching and commenting! I have an Olympus BHM microscope.
@zenrazor659 Жыл бұрын
@@KeithVJohnson1 Thank I looked a lot of your videos and I think Dans Arkansas are the best for razors but I had to go for the 8 inch longness to use the dmt to flat perfectely. RIGHT? Could you make a video on Rh Preyeda translucent? I have one!🤔🫡 Thanks!!!
@ilmigrante6234 жыл бұрын
La ardesia liguria è una pietra lavagna come quelle che si trovano nelle scuole negli anni a dietro 1985/83
@KeithVJohnson14 жыл бұрын
A lot of slate for pool tables used to come from that area.
@kylekelly11677 жыл бұрын
thank man for posting this.
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome, and thank you for watching!
@johnnyboydianno6 жыл бұрын
Another Keith classic I'd honestly say this is in the same league as that Chinese so called 12k
@KeithVJohnson16 жыл бұрын
I might actally prefer the (alleged) C12k to be honest.
@dfailsthemost4 жыл бұрын
I had the same thought. The color of the slurry looked like the "12k" chinese stone i own. Which, btw I use as a substitute for a 3K grit stone in my progression.
@ciaielito3 жыл бұрын
I bought the premium stone and it chips the edges. Even following Dr Matt’s method. The ILR is truly useless in my book. Its too bad I didn’t watch this before making the purchase.
@KeithVJohnson13 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching and commenting !
@sheshaveswithjill48385 жыл бұрын
hmmmmmmmm now I am double thinking about getting that stone.
@KeithVJohnson15 жыл бұрын
If you want a bargain stone that is worth the asking price, buy a purple Welsh Slate from AJ on eBay.
@memyselfandi33477 жыл бұрын
Sir have you tried using this under running water? It might just be what is missing.
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
The only thing missing here is a good hone. This thing is a door stop.
@memyselfandi33477 жыл бұрын
lol.
@TietLung4 жыл бұрын
Almost hit the "buy it now" button on one before finding this video. Going to see if I can find a purple welsh now. Sofar all I found are sets, and I just want the one stone.
@KeithVJohnson14 жыл бұрын
Email the seller and ask for a single stone and he'll probably post it for you.
@inginergm3 жыл бұрын
How much cost a stone like your turingian from this clip.
@KeithVJohnson13 жыл бұрын
No reason to discuss price here but I have no idea, this video is 5 yr old.
@michaelschwarz31755 жыл бұрын
I was thinking about getting one and use it instead of my 12k naniwa. Seems its not worth it.
@KeithVJohnson15 жыл бұрын
Your 12k is a better finisher.
@jimcunningham73415 жыл бұрын
Hello Keith wood you compare this stone to Welsh slate more or less
@KeithVJohnson15 жыл бұрын
Depends on which Welsh Slate you are referring to. The stone in this video is roughly equivalent to 6k, maybe 7k synthetic stones.
@josmon53059 жыл бұрын
Hello dear friends,,,, this hone IMPERIAL LA ROCCIA, is a natural slate mined in Italy? Thank you to help me.
@KeithVJohnson19 жыл бұрын
My opinion - this stone does not appear to be slate, and nothing about it to makes me believe it's from Italy.
@kjkansari7 жыл бұрын
After reading/watching some good reviews I decided to give it a go. I tried to buy from ebay price 40 dollars, shipping almost 25 dollars and important charges 20 dollars. I think seller thought he is selling jnat 😂
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
Some sellers on that site are very very confused.
@kjkansari7 жыл бұрын
'Shobudani Kiita Nashiji Namazu LV4+' just bought this on ebay for 80$ with shipping. I know nothing about jnat but I bid in reflecs and highest bidder cancel his bid in last minuts I hope it was good buy.
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
Good Luck!
@j.c16504 жыл бұрын
Which stone or stones would you recommend as a finisher stone?
@KeithVJohnson14 жыл бұрын
Mostly, it's personal preference and there are lots of choices. best thing to do is to have some guys hone several razors finished on several different stones so you can get a feel for what's what. My first 'finsiher' was a 12k Naniwa Super Stone, then a Coticule, then an Escher, and so on.. all good, all different.
@JuanDiaz-mu8ht4 жыл бұрын
@@KeithVJohnson1 Couldn't agree more!
@Dcelrod3 жыл бұрын
What did you seal the label on the Thuringia hone with?
@KeithVJohnson13 жыл бұрын
Was a long time ago - I forget what I did with that one.
@Dcelrod3 жыл бұрын
@@KeithVJohnson1 what do you usually use other than cashew laquer?
@KeithVJohnson13 жыл бұрын
@@Dcelrod I never used Cashew on a Thuringian. Haven't sealed a Thuri in a really long time, can't remember what I did back then.
@Dcelrod3 жыл бұрын
@@KeithVJohnson1 I didn't mean that you used it on a Thuri I have seen your videos where you have mentioned sealing one of the stone in your video with it. I meant what else do you use to seal stones in general with besides cashew laquer. I have been trying to find something about it on the forums but have came up with absolutely nothing. I only asked you because like I mentioned you have mentioned sealing a stone in some of your videos so I thought you may be a person that could offer some knowledge about what to use on to old lily white Washita stones I have that I want to protect the labels on so that they won't be destroyed from using the stones. I have managed to remove the labels so I could clean the stones now I want to reattach them to the stones and protect them with something I just don't know what to use that won't destroy the labels.
@KeithVJohnson13 жыл бұрын
In the past I used a lot of stuff but not everything works on every label, so you have to test or you can ruin the label. I used some kind of paint once, a type of clear Krylon, I forget which one but it worked ok but I would not suggest trying it without testing it first. Nail polish can dissolve inks sometimes, and make it blur or run. Same with some Lacquers, I think the solvent in the paint is bad for the ink in the labels. Plus, if you use oil on the stones, that can affect whatever you seal the label with - so there's there. The best suggestion is to test test test and test some more. Or just save the label on the side.
@sheshaveswithjill48385 жыл бұрын
can I use my Shapton 12 K as a finisher?
@KeithVJohnson15 жыл бұрын
Yes
@Xminor797 жыл бұрын
Thanks for making this video. I was about to buy this stone, but not any more. So I'm wondering if you can give me some advice. I picked up a Boker Elite from Lynn Abrahams, and I'm wondering what finishing stone you'd recommend to refresh the edge. I've never honed before but I can't see me takin too long to learn. I'd just love to know what stone you'd recommend I try out!!
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
Hi Mark, and thank you for watching. If you liked the edge that Lynn made for you, then I'd reccommend contacting him to find out what he used as a finisher. Then you'll know where to start looking.
@Xminor797 жыл бұрын
Keith V. Johnson sounds good man. Thanks for the reply!
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
Glad to share - if you get stuck, give a shout.
@Xminor797 жыл бұрын
Keith V. Johnson - since you're offering lol maybe you can tell me if I'm on the right track? My thoughts for when I need to refresh the edge are; -Naniwa 12k -chromium oxide strop -leather strop Is that pretty much a safe method, or should I add, or remove a step?
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
I said - if you get stuck. Your not stuck. lol. Lots of things work, including your list. But - each edge is different and until you know how the edge you liked was finished you are shooting in the dark. Start at the beginning, call Lynn and start at square 1.
@davidloss26086 жыл бұрын
Is the Zulu Grey a good finishing stone?
@KeithVJohnson16 жыл бұрын
I tried several of them, 3 I think - I didn't like them very much. There are some people that do like them though.
@davidloss26086 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your quick reply!
@KeithVJohnson16 жыл бұрын
You’re very welcome!
@oldschoolprepper22735 жыл бұрын
Well the bright side somebody has another doorstop
@KeithVJohnson15 жыл бұрын
Lol!
@nicholasparaskevas55407 жыл бұрын
Feels like slate, looks like slate. Must be slate.
@KeithVJohnson13 ай бұрын
Happy Honing!
@jasl73587 жыл бұрын
I know that this is probably a dumb question and probably bordering on blasphemy but here goes. Say you have one of these and it has been lapped properly. It's super slow to the point that you can't see any progress being made BUT, it's not leaving deep scratches or chips in the edge. Could a person use a nagura slurry and maybe get something done with this otherwise useless rock?
@KeithVJohnson17 жыл бұрын
Probably a waste of good Nagura.
@ilmigrante6234 жыл бұрын
Costa 10euro dal marmista a Torino...
@jrshrewsbury10228 жыл бұрын
Thanks Keith was toying around with picking one of these up. I'll pass!
@KeithVJohnson18 жыл бұрын
Prob a good move. :0)
@ianboard5442 жыл бұрын
looks and sounds like a chinese 12k.
@PeterEndelt3 жыл бұрын
👍
@KeithVJohnson13 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching and commenting.
@ilmigrante6234 жыл бұрын
Sera ,sono Italiani e abito vicino la Liguria ho una ardesia si è una pietra buona ..ma solo se rasoio è in geometria...per il resto..Bah...meglio una 3000.E una ardesia è buona per lucidare e rifinire.
@KeithVJohnson14 жыл бұрын
I wish to visit Liguria someday, Genoa, the coastline. Most slate is not all that good for honing razors, it's very difficult to find slate of that quality.
@stuben69697 жыл бұрын
The Imperia La Roccia hone sucks. I had the same experience.
@KeithVJohnson13 ай бұрын
Happy Honing!
@dfailsthemost4 жыл бұрын
Just an unsubstantiated feeling, but I always feel like stones advertised as 12-15k on auction sites are all the same chug.
@KeithVJohnson14 жыл бұрын
This is a chug of a different flavor, but still in the same general 'zone' .
@drmoss_ca4 жыл бұрын
In my view, it is a Chinese 12k from Guanxi. Otherwise the sellers would say where it comes from.
@KeithVJohnson14 жыл бұрын
@@drmoss_ca I've had so-called 12k Guanxi hones, the ILR is much different.
@drmoss_ca4 жыл бұрын
@@KeithVJohnson1 We may have to agree to disagree. Glad to see someone else playing with a Pyke 'American Swaty' - a neat little barber hone.
@johnnyboydianno6 жыл бұрын
Drives me nuts when guys say they get a great shave off crap like this it's like a little boy getting his first pube hair and calling him self a man I say sit down son you got a long way to go
@KeithVJohnson16 жыл бұрын
Truth...
@luigiluigi20984 жыл бұрын
Hahaha i better sit down. I have been impressed with the edge been getting. Not to say don't respect the opinions and thorough review from Keith. Really enjoyed the information. Irrespective though of cost, of the steel, the stones used. If it shaves to the shavers liking it's a good edge. As always with shaving YMMV. Best wishes gents