Thread: Hone selection advice, Belgian Coticule combo vs Norton8/4k

For a new person getting into honing, I would strongly recommend the Norton 4K/8K or the Japanese wet stones. These are the most consistent and easiest stones to learn on so that you can repeat results. The Coticule is a good stone for finishing or experimenting with slurry for lower grits, but more time consuming and not anywhere near as consistent.

Good luck,

Lynn

Thanks for the replies.
I was originally planning on picking up a norton 4k/8k stone and learning the basics, but I got the belgian coticule combo as a birthday gift from my girlfriend. Now I have to go with what I have.

After reading everything I could find and watching the videos by heavydutysg135 and the SRP dvd I think I will go with the norton 4k/1k stone for now to compliment the coticule. I can always pick up more stones down the road. I would love to try a DMT plate but the nortons are availiabe locally.

Originally Posted by kozak

Thanks for the replies.
I was originally planning on picking up a norton 4k/8k stone and learning the basics, but I got the belgian coticule combo as a birthday gift from my girlfriend. Now I have to go with what I have.

After reading everything I could find and watching the videos by heavydutysg135 and the SRP dvd I think I will go with the norton 4k/1k stone for now to compliment the coticule. I can always pick up more stones down the road. I would love to try a DMT plate but the nortons are availiabe locally.

I don't have experience with the Norton hones, but I never used a 4K waterhone that left an edge ready to be finished on a Coticule with water.

If your Coticule has ample speed with slurry, it will do the job of that Norton 1K.
Get a Norton 4K/8K instead. Finish on the Coticule after the 8K, and you'll have great edges. You can always play with slurry later, and if it doesn't work out, you can buy a separate 1K later. Or the DMT 1200.

Trust Lynn's advice.

Bart.

Originally Posted by Bart

I don't have experience with the Norton hones, but I never used a 4K waterhone that left an edge ready to be finished on a Coticule with water.

If your Coticule has ample speed with slurry, it will do the job of that Norton 1K.
Get a Norton 4K/8K instead. Finish on the Coticule after the 8K, and you'll have great edges. You can always play with slurry later, and if it doesn't work out, you can buy a separate 1K later. Or the DMT 1200.

Trust Lynn's advice.

Bart.

Oh I do trust Lynn, I am just a little confused
Can I finish on the blue side of the coticule after the 8k on the Norton or should I go to the yellow side right away?
According to the sellers website blue side = 4000k, yelow = 8000 and with slurry = 6000.

What does "ample speed with slurry" mean?

Don't worry about finishing. Learn to use your norton, the 8k is all the finishing you need until you can shave comfortably off it. Until you can do that it's better to be spending your time learning how to use the norton instead of trying different finishing hones.
You may end up keeping your belgian combo, but since you can afford the norton i think it's a good choice even if only as a learning tool.

Thanks for all the advice, I will be getting the norton 4k/8k today.

If i decide to pick up some beat up razors on ebay to practice honing will the 4k side be enough to establish an edge or do I need something in the 1k range (I only ask this because I watched Lynns dvd honing chapten another 5 times yesterday)? LeeValley has a japanese 1200k stone for $29 canadian which will not break the bank.

Originally Posted by kozak

Thanks for all the advice, I will be getting the norton 4k/8k today.

If i decide to pick up some beat up razors on ebay to practice honing will the 4k side be enough to establish an edge or do I need something in the 1k range (I only ask this because I watched Lynns dvd honing chapten another 5 times yesterday)? LeeValley has a japanese 1200k stone for $29 canadian which will not break the bank.

You can set a bevel on a 4k but it is nice to have the lower grit. Especially if you are working with used razors that may have chipping and may need a lot of metal removed. If it was just for your new razors or shave ready used ones it wouldn't be an advantage. On the beat up ones it is an advantage.