Thread: Any English people?

Originally Posted by dannywonderful

I haven't bought any hones yet as I'm still learning to actually shave with the things, although I have snagged a couple of 99p razors off eBay to practice with when I start learning to hone.

I had assumed from what I have read that I will need a Norton 4K/8K and some kind of finishing stone ( Dragon's Tongue? ) and that would do me unless I wanted to start restoring blades. Is this right? If I just want to maintain my razors I mean.

I've seen this CrOx in the classifieds, but I'm not entirely sure what you do with it. Do you mix it with something and paste it onto a canvas strop?

The Norton gets a lot of press on here, but it's kinda awkward for us to get on this side of the pond. I bought a BBW/Coticule combo instead.

I am not really sure about the Dragons Tongue, I nearly bought one, but the reports are so varied I decided against it. I have read they're more middle of the road, 8kish - really not sure though - I don't think any one is.

It sounds like you want to take it from dull to sharp, and not just do touch ups, so yes, something like the norton 4/8k, or the coticule combos which are approximately the same, are a good start. It will be frustratingly slow on blades with chips though.

Rather than get a finishing stone as well, I would get a lower grit stone and buy CrOx - which is basically a powder that you can apply to all sorts of stuff, strop your razor on it for 5 or 6 laps and it will - on a properly honed edge - be a great finishing touch.

There are a lot of choices, and you could read and read and read, but ultimately you just gotta make a decision. I went with natural stones.

Originally Posted by gregs656

yes, most probably. If you already have a coticule, a BBW makes a lot of sense (or maybe I am biased!)

It is certainly possible to get very good edges of a coticule, and following it with some sort of paste is not a bad idea.

Check out a carboot, if you can find a charnley forest you won't worry about shamptons again!

Just out of curiocity, have you tried honing anything with just the coticule?

So a cuticle PLUS a bbw. does that mean a belgian blue whetstone would be 12k?

unless you get one from Ardeness coticules, but, when I already have a 10k. that ends up being quite a bit of money.

10ks are too fine to sharpen on. I need something lower. hence the 4.8k.

If I were to buy, a 4/8, my 10, then a 12. that would be quite a bit of money. for anyone wanting to get started. I think, 4/8 then one finishing stone, would be okay. which was why I wanted the shaptons, they go straight from 4 to 8 to 16. so that works out cheaper, if youre in america and dont have the huge shipping cost.

Just my thoughts.

BBWs are supposed to be about 4.

You could pretty much sharpen anything that didn't need major corrective work with a BBW and a coticule, with CrOx as a finisher if you really want to.

I sharpened nearly 20 razors on my BBW/Coticule combo, and if I hadn't picked up the stones I got so cheap - I would have probably just kept that one stone and CrOx.

I see a lot of people put their faith in green chromium oxide paste.

Originally Posted by gregs656

BBWs are supposed to be about 4.

You could pretty much sharpen anything that didn't need major corrective work with a BBW and a coticule, with CrOx as a finisher if you really want to.

I sharpened nearly 20 razors on my BBW/Coticule combo, and if I hadn't picked up the stones I got so cheap - I would have probably just kept that one stone and CrOx.

Oh, okay, that makes more sense. so they would be about 4/10.

Originally Posted by gregs656

BBWs are supposed to be about 4.

You could pretty much sharpen anything that didn't need major corrective work with a BBW and a coticule, with CrOx as a finisher if you really want to.

I sharpened nearly 20 razors on my BBW/Coticule combo, and if I hadn't picked up the stones I got so cheap - I would have probably just kept that one stone and CrOx.

Where did you get the BBW/Coticule?

You can get one here for ecample.
Ardennes Coticule - Producer of the Coticule whetstone!

Thanks for the link, Olivia! The array of stones they have is a bit beweildering though.

You're welcome!
I just ordered one. Nice guy to deal with!

Originally Posted by dannywonderful

Thanks for the link, Olivia! The array of stones they have is a bit beweildering though.

Rob is a great guy to deal with, just email him with what you want - he will help you out.

I like mine a lot. I have two now.