Thread: Natural options for "1-8k work"

Messing with Naturals below the Pre-Finisher / Finisher stage can be a ton of fun and the source of much frustration

My results have been much like stated above, setting the bevel is really the issue once that can be accomplished, there are many ways to a shave ready edge and success.

Using cutting slurries can ease that process, heck using the right slurry you can set a bevel on a piece of glass, but finding a Natural stone that effectively sets a bevel is a quest I am still on

If it eludes or frustrates guys like you it's well beyond me. That I'm certain of. However this is all speculation on my part and I'm learning a lot in this thread. It can be nice in such a large arena simply to have a good grasp of ones options. Of what is available, and what those with first-hand experience think about it.

I've been trying the Pyrénées side of a La Pyrénées/BBW Combo as a bevel-setter - one of these from Ardennes Coticule.

Ahh, that page reminds me of one of the key reasons I keep doing u-turns on the thought of ever buying a coticle stone. Size-wise I've used longer 65mm wide stones and shorter 80mm wide stones and I find I like the width far more than the length. In order to get a coti that's anywhere near as wide as I'd like I'd have to pay a heck of a lot of money and for the price of a 200/75mm coticle there are many, many options. Options make for tough decisions!

I love stones and think they're things of beauty, but I honestly hope never to own so many that such decisions become simple. I want a tight, effective collection of stones which will all be used. So I mean to take things very slowly.

Did you see the "la Pyrenees" stone that the above poster pointed out. It's not a coticule at all and it's cheap.

I've seen bevels set on Japanese stones. It was done on a very beautiful striped j-nat. Then the blade was brought to a mirror using a nakayama? and many nagura. A fun process to watch and done by a true master (bayamontate).

Michael

Michael

I'm not speaking for gssixgun but synthetics can get you to the place where you can use the natural after a certain point. When I first started using naturals, I honed to a certain point on synthetics and experimented different ways with maintaining sharpness. If I lost it, I was doing something wrong, if I maintained,I was on the right path. Do as you will, but its an uphill climb starting on naturals unless your next door neighbor is proficient and willing to help you.

Did you see the "la Pyrenees" stone that the above poster pointed out. It's not a coticule at all and it's cheap.

I looked at everything that was available there. I'd need to know more about the La Pyrenees, not to mention other potential options, before making any kind of decision.

Do as you will, but its an uphill climb starting on naturals unless your next door neighbor is proficient and willing to help you.

I don't mean to do that. I think I've made it fairly clear. Apart from a lapping stone the three SS stones I have on their way are going to see a lot of use over a long period before I think of buying anything else. Ideally I won't have to. And hopefully I can sell one of my finishing stones once I make up my mind which I like better. If I thought anyone would want it I might sell my 3/8 but more likely I'll keep it for knives or give it to someone.

Regarding mentors I'm more interested in the process of learning by myself as a source of fun and a hobby than rushing to improve. The bottom line is that I have a razor and I can keep it in working condition on my own. Presumably I may need to send it away to be properly re-sharpened at some point (unless I can do so myself by then), and I can sharpen knives and scissors just fine (though I've never tried mower blades I plan to soon) so everything else is an added extra. This hobby offers so much beyond honing. I want to experience all aspects.

Originally Posted by dadsavage

I looked at everything that was available there. I'd need to know more about the La Pyrenees, not to mention other potential options, before making any kind of decision.

There's a discussion thread about the Pyrenees on another forum (in which I show the scope shot that for some reason I can't upload here), but I'm not sure I'd be allowed to link to it.

Tho they may exist, I don't know of any naturals that can do what a good synthetic 1k can do in the same space of time. After that point plenty of naturals work & some at a respectable speed..

Originally Posted by bill3152

I'm not speaking for gssixgun but synthetics can get you to the place where you can use the natural after a certain point. When I first started using naturals, I honed to a certain point on synthetics and experimented different ways with maintaining sharpness. If I lost it, I was doing something wrong, if I maintained,I was on the right path. Do as you will, but its an uphill climb starting on naturals unless your next door neighbor is proficient and willing to help you.

Maybe I'm in the minority but I'm having an easier time learning on naturals/coticules than I was on synthetics.

They sell here in Bulgaria a hard slate , witch is fast on slurry and it is very good midle stone in 2 - 6 k level . It didnot chip the edge and it polish very good for this grit . Leaves very sharp edges also .
It is sold also in combination with a fine sandstone , that can be used for chips repair and bevell seting .
I tink Hunter blades has 1 of theese .

Белги� за заточване - е�те�твен камък гр. Софи� Гео Милев • OLX.bg

Originally Posted by RusenBG

They sell here in Bulgaria a hard slate , witch is fast on slurry and it is very good midle stone in 2 - 6 k level . It didnot chip the edge and it polish very good for this grit . Leaves very sharp edges also .
It is sold also in combination with a fine sandstone , that can be used for chips repair and bevell seting .
I tink Hunter blades has 1 of theese .

Белги� за заточване - е�те�твен камък гр. Софи� Гео Милев • OLX.bg

Do you have what they are called in English?

Originally Posted by ShaveWares

Maybe I'm in the minority but I'm having an easier time learning on naturals/coticules than I was on synthetics.

I don't know if you are in the minority or not, but I have preferred natural stones for razors for a long time. Not because you can't get something good on synthetics, but the naturals that I have never cause any microchipping, etc, and in the end, the edges off of a natural and even the finest synthetic stones are fairly similar. Only the very fine oxides (0.1 micron, etc) can make the edges go beyond that level, but it's a very transient edge that they create, and unless you constantly use them, it feels like you're struggling to keep that edge (and something like 0.1 micron iron oxide does make a razor that causes me a lot of weepers).

Anyway, naturals and a real vintage linen makes for a really nice combination, and a razor that always seems to be the same sharpness level.