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

Title says it, I like coticules, but they haven't all been the same for me. Some I get great results, others not so much. Even on the "great" one, it can be very inconsistent. They're also a bit slow and the romance is starting to dwindle, and I'm saying this after recently purchased two more.

EDIT: I'm not trashing coticules, I think they're awesome. I know my way around some of mine, and all can get shave ready, some better because I practiced more on them. I'm looking for something a little dumbed down, if that makes sense.

I'm about to pull the trigger on a Norton 4/8, my first sythentic mid range stone. I keep hearing I can shave off this thing alone. I've always doubted that, like a big dummy. But is it true? I AM looking for something keener than a coti, and I'm not convinced I need another finisher for the task. Looking for something a little more consistent, with a decent learning curve (my cotis took me FOREVER to finally understand).

I think it's kind of a shame I always passed the buck on the Norton 4/8 recommendation, and I think knowing what it takes to get a good coti edge, I can lean my way around a Norton. Don't tell the natural guys I'm doing this LOL.

Thoughts?

What stones do you have besides coti's?

hey dinnermint, thanks for the reply.

I have:

5 cotis,
King 1k
Surgical Black Arkansas
1 BBW
1 "La Lorraine"
1 Soft Ark
1 "Levant" stone
1 Chinese 12k
1 DMT 325 (mostly lapping)


I guess I'm looking for something quicker, faster, much more consistant, and much sharper than a coti.

For the record, I never cared for the BBW or the Chinese 12k.

I'm prob just gonna grab a Norton 4/8. It was going to be a thuringian, but I think that can wait. I wanna see what a Norton can do.

I guess what I'm looking for is a comparison in shaves from people who have used and are experienced in both. Which edge provided a closer shave? A smoother one? I get YMMV, I'm looking for a ballpark ("don't waste your time;" "stick with this;" "the Norton 4/8 by a long shot"--e.t.c.)

All I own is a Norton, and I'm just starting to get good edges off it now!

Nice man,

having a bunch of rocks doesn't mean a thing. It means I'm a caveman who hates sunlight.

That's all I use and have plus a 1k Chosera for bevel setting, I can get a razor shave sharp in no time using the 4/8 combo Norton, Soak the 4k for about 5 to 8min. for the first time and a splash of water for the 8k. I have never understood all the hype for Coti's, Thuringian's, ect, ect. What makes these stones so great?. Go get you a 4/8k combo Norton and you will never look back. You might want to get a 12k for a finishing stone if you feel like it, I have one but hardly ever use it.

Originally Posted by J743

Nice man,

having a bunch of rocks doesn't mean a thing. It means I'm a caveman who hates sunlight.

I'd like to experiment with more, but I better get proficient with my Norton first. I've heard great things about coticule's though.

It depends what I'm doing, for me if I'm doing a complete bevel reset I prefer my Norton 4/8, for a refresh I do reach for the coticule quite often

Just realized I have a woodcraft near me. I'll stop by after work.

I'll have an experiment tonight, let's see what this bad boy can do. I think it'll be fun.

I have high hopes for it.

I can't rightly say, as I stuck with Naniwas. However, there are many people that love the 4/8k. Will it necessarily been keener than your best coti edge? Maaaaybe, but it will probably speed up the jump from 1k to coti. However, I would look into the C12K more if I were you. I have a razor that was done coti then C12k and it is one of the best edges. However, using your current stones, I would think you could get keener edges with the Ark as well, but it is on the slower side.