Thread: Belgium coticule whetstones

I just finished watching Lynn Abram's DVD and I was looking for the 12,000 grit coticule stone online...but it appears, based on other websites, that the yellow is an 8000 grit stone? Does anyone have any clarification on that? Thank you!

As I understand it coticules are actually 8,000 grit give or take but due to the way the garnets in the stone cut the ending result is closer to 10,000 to12,000 grit!

JMS is right. Grit size is only part of the equation. Natural stones tend to cut slower and finer than their man-made counterparts of the same particle size. It's kind of confusing sometimes.

Josh

Awesome! Thanks guys!

i ordered the norton 4000-8000 (again) today from vintagebladesllc and i thought that that was all i needed to hone a razor

what is a coticule and does one need it to get that fine edge

and if so where do i get one??


thanks

Talk to Howard; his website is www.theperfectedge.com

Unless you're in europe. Then it might be easier to get them straight from where they\re mined. I got mine there and they're great (my new ones that is. I got my old one...the one in the video off e-bay.)

Originally Posted by raZor

i ordered the norton 4000-8000 (again) today from vintagebladesllc and i thought that that was all i needed to hone a razor

what is a coticule and does one need it to get that fine edge

and if so where do i get one??


thanks

The workhorse hone is the Norton4/8. The Belgian hone falls into a class called a finishing hone. There a number of different finishing hones . Some people also use a abrasive pasted paddle strop after the Norton 4/8. Some guys use both.
But... you do not NEED anything more than the 4/8 and a plain leather strop.

Just my two cents,

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

Unless you're in europe. Then it might be easier to get them straight from where they\re mined. I got mine there and they're great (my new ones that is. I got my old one...the one in the video off e-bay.)

Just DON'T buy them from the razor and shaving shop in Antwerp. At least, not if you cannot go over there and check them for yourself.
I have seen what they sell, and some of it is junk that is not worthy to hone a razor. They don't sell select grade, so you might get a good one, but then again you might buy something that can only be used on pocket knives.

On top of that, it is cheaper to buy from Howard and have it shipped, than to drive to Antwerp and buy it in person.

you can get it from the source....let me find the link...here it is