Thread: Anyone PREFER a Norton 4/8 to a coticule?

Originally Posted by kcb5150

Combo synths, this one included aren't my favorite mainly due to the water absorption rates being different for each side. You always end up with one side acting strange. I really think if you go synth, go for the single grits if you can afford it.. That or shallow soak each side separately as you require them.

My 4/8 Norton lives in the water, Has for ten years?
Cannot do that with the Naniwas,

Much of what I did not like about mid-range Naniawas makes the Norton 4/8 superior.
Not that they are better....
I am just Lazy!

The Nanis are indispensable from bevel-setting(Chosera 1k), refining (Naniwa 1k),
Until finishing some on the 12k. I have not the patience to do the middle with them.
Just lazy! The old 4/8 fills the bill for me.

It's run the gamut for me, but they have run the range from one side being way more thirsty than the other, to shedding material during use on one side to outright disintegrating. I still have a few combos and now I fill a tray with enough to submerge a single side and just let each go that way. It stopped the failure issue for me but it's still annoying to have two porous hones with different thirst bound as one. At least for me anyway. Different strokes...

Coticules are a really tricky stone to make a blanket statement about. Some are dead slow on slurry or water, but I have had one that cut more aggressively on just water (to the point I could take chips out of wedges on water)than my shapton 500gs and it was fine as well until I hit toxic weirdness within it. Some are coarse and not fast, some are coarse and quick, many are average, some are respectably fine, and the rare anomaly is really really fine. If you had the right one with the right properties it could mop the floor with the 4/8, but it's a slot machine and the synths are definites. There is something to be said for that.

Well. As waterstones are concerned, you must water them! Comes with the territory, I suppose.

Cotis are natural........You know!

A 4/8 Norton is usually pretty tight in consistancy, EVEN if it IS slow!

A good shave from a coticule is a cause for celebration. Hit and miss!
The same edge from the 4/8 Norton is hum-drum and excellent every time. JMO

Let's not factor-in a few laps on CroOx,,,, Some Escher?

Just Me!

Well, yeah but I would rather they weren't fused so I could cater more easily to respective quirks.

It's coming!

My Norton pretty much lives in water as well (months at a time) same with my King 1k, no issues what so ever.

Originally Posted by kcb5150

Coticules are a really tricky stone to make a blanket statement about.

Exactly why I haven't tried one. In fact I wish I had listened to the advice here and started on the Norton 4/8 k instead of trying to master the myriad of naturals and barber hones I collected. Much easier learning curve.

I shaved off a coti edge I just finished last night. It was really good to be honest. The black arkansas after is good too.

I think one of the reasons I brought this up, the idea that maybe the Norton 4/8 could deliver more keeness, was the HHT performance--which for me matters. What I didn't realize was that upon closer inspection of the hairs I was using, and I mean close--some were thicker than others. With a really fine hair I can't pop a thing, maybe a violin if I'm lucky. With another hair simple, a little thicker, yet much finer than any whisker, I'm HHT 3-4. I usually grab a hair from a brush lying around the house. Never thought twice about it. I'm beginning to see why so many aren't crazy about the HHT test.

I actually have a dressante arriving from Ardennes soon, that and a myrtilles bout, so, we'll see how they go. I'm told they're much faster.

I might just shut up and hone. I seem to get better results when I stop buying things and concentrate.

Yes, too many different kinds of hones, means less time actually learning how to use one variety.

The HHT is effective when you have figured a way to calibrate it. i.e.: using strands of hair that are consistently similar. Ultimately, it's the shave that matters, and you shouldn't obsess too much about what level HHT you are getting.

If you are not entirely happy with the edge after stropping, going back to the coticule for a few very light strokes followed by more stropping can bring up the sharpness.

Lastly, you might just add to your grief by purchasing too many different veins of coticules. I have yet to encounter a coticule that didn't deliver an edge I wasn't satisfied with.