Thread: Natural Stones

Faking stamps on Japanese naturals is alive and well. I'm sure I've read or seen similar issues with Eschers (fake or replacement labels).

Whenever the prices make the risk worthwhile, there will be illegal (or at least unscrupulous) activity going on with anything.

James.

Are there any natural stones that work like a coticule but are cheaper?

Originally Posted by jte87

Are there any natural stones that work like a coticule but are cheaper?

Kind of a non specific question. The road to hell is paved with cheap stones! Did you mean less expensive?

Sure there are lots of stones to hone razors with. Since a coticule can take the place of all the stones in a progression after bevel setting, I am not sure that a coticule is expensive relative to the cost of that progression.

Originally Posted by jte87

Are there any natural stones that work like a coticule but are cheaper?

What does "work like a coticule mean"? I don't know of any stone natural or synthetic that requires the technique used with coticules (like dilucot, unicot) to get the best results. Japanese naturals benefit from diluting and working slurry down with reduced pressure, but they're in general not cheaper. Thuringians and Arkansas don't slurry on their own with a razor, though Thuringians often came with a "rubber" stone to create a slurry.

If you buy a good coticule, Thuringian, or JNat, it will likely last you the rest of your life so that needs to be considered in the cost-benefit equation. Unless you get HAD....

Cheers, Steve

I'm thinking something that will give the same edge but not $300. I'm wanting a Thuringian as a finisher and can get like a 3x8 or something like that for $199. I'm just curious why a Thuringian costs less than a coticule.

For the same reason a Dubl duck goes for 3-4 times what a Red Imp goes for. It is what people are willing to pay for them. By the way, a thurinigan is only a finisher...

Ahh, ok. I'll keep looking. Maybe I can luck out and find one cheaper.

Splashone makes an excellent point about going from bevel-set to finish with a coticule.

You can certainly get a 150x50mm to 175x50mm coticule for around $130. If you try to match a coticule to a synthetic size then yes they are expensive but most use smaller coticules.

Another "feature" of good natural stones is that they increase in price almost exponentially with size. A quality $150 Japanese that's 135 x 35mm could bring over $1k or more if it were a perfect 205x75x25mm rectangle, same quality stone.

Cheers, Steve

I can't find the listing right now, because I deleted it from my watched items, but on ebay last night, a Hohenzollern with slurry stone and label, in the wooden box, finished at $258.00, IIRC, which was a heckuva deal AFAIC. Say that to say that not all of the good waterstones go for exorbitant prices.

Matter of fact the only J-nat I ever had was a Nakayma asagi originally purchased from So Yamashita for $300 IIRC, and I paid that for it and sold it for the same. It was a great hone but I just didn't need another great hone or I would have held on to it. Anyway, if a person is patient, keeps their eyes open, bargain hones can be had, and you really only 'need' one final finisher.

Droescher Razor Hone Similar to Escher German Whetstone Hohenzollern | eBay

Fat-fingered that one, Jimmy. $285 and still a fantastic deal. So long as they aren't genuine Eschers, the prices aren't too crazy. Last month an Escher went for north of $1200. Insanity.