Ebay Hones

Don't know if this is the proper forum, but I'm a noob, so I guess it qualifies.

I'm looking at picking up hones for when my new razor is in need- figure it's better to shop now rather than when it's dull. I blindly bought a blue coticule off ebay a few weeks ago, not entirely knowing what I was getting, but it was super cheap. The literature that came with it claims it's about a 5000 grit, so that seems fine as a rough stone (other than it's diminutive size which could be a pain). I've been looking at the yellow coticules but most are pretty expensive. For the Nortons, I came across this guy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bench-Stone-8-X2-X1-Norton-JB8-Crystolon-Combination_W0QQitemZ360119383098QQcmdZViewItemQQp tZAbrasives?hash=item360119383098&_trksid=p3286.c0 .m14&_trkparms=72%3A570|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240% 3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

The price is right, but maybe too right. Would this be a good 4/8k stone?

If it looks good, he's got a bunch, so it would be good for a lot of noobs.

Thanks

rather than gambling, I'd call Howard Schechter at theperfectedge.com (he's a member here) and get a GOOD 6X2 yellow coticule and cotigura slurry stone.

There's also this Coticule, which seems pretty cheap, but the pictures leave more questions than answers:

Belgian Coticule Sharpening Stone - 4” x 15/8” #8000 - eBay (item 260333757098 end time Jan-15-09 09:34:18 PST)

I've already asked if it's rectangular or angled, and if it's backed- no response yet.

Thanks

sorry this is not right stone.you need 4/8k stone which will run around 60-70.and this price is right one.Please go to wiki and read what you can buy from ebay or cannot buy.there is section should be about razor's but not for hones .i am assuming you don't know a lot about razor and please don't make mistakes which a lot of us have done before.good luck

belgian good one but small size you need a little bigger.

boy- you guys are on it! within seconds!

You mean, with all the reading I've been doing I missed a section in the WIKI? Sheesh. Would have saved some time. Will check it out.

Many thanks!

OK- been searching through the WIKI for about 20 minutes and found a few things I hadn't read, but nothing on ebay hones.

Looks like a Norton combination from a reputable source is probably the way to go though for the cheapest entry.

Ebay isn't a bad deal for hones once you know what you need -- but that particular stone isn't for razors. I'm pretty sure that is an oil stone, first of all -- and you'd probably be best off with a waterstone. Further, the coarse is far too fast a cutter for anything associated with razors (it's like 325 grit) and the fine isn't really fine enough.

As someone said, it's best to do a lot of wiki research if you want to mind a tight budget -- or just drop Howard a line at the perfect edge, and he'll steer you right.

cheers,

cass

Cass is right on. It's not just about getting a Norton, but getting the right Norton. They make a number of combo stones, and the razor workhorse is the 4k/8k. The one you found on ebay is an Inida/Arkansas; an oilstone that would be much too coarse for razors.

Howard at the perfectedge.com, in addition to being a great source of coticules, also carries the 4k/8k Norton stone. If you email him, I'm almost positive you can also have him lap your stone for you.