Thread: Natural stone for maintaining a edge

I'll add my vote for a coticule. If it's only for edge maintenance, it's not that hard really. Stone, water, some rubbing, no big deal.

Thank you decraew for your help. This is my logic. That a corticule I can use to maintain but further down the track to start from after bevel set to last progression. I would use razors just the tang to learn this process.

Welcome to SRP erobins. Some great advice already. If you really want to try natural stones have a go at a Thuri or Escher, although not that easy to find down under. Next would be Arkansas trans or black although they take a bit more prep, a little easier to find. If you take your time looking, they can be had for much less than the high end synths.

If you want a natural be prepared to be in for a long haul.

Especially if you want a coticule. I have a few .. haha few... myself and each is so different and not everyone I would consider ideal for one stone honing. There certainly are stones out there which are usable for one stone honing but at the same time there are others that are not.

What really helps if using a natural stone is to get a good bevel and refine it a bit on synthetics before going to the natural stone. This makes predictability much more attainable.

I'm not steering you away from coticules to synthetics I'm saying to be prepared to put in work and go through a lot of trial and error.

The end results of a one stone hone gone right on a coticule is heavenly. I'd argue you'll find no other stone that gives such a soft edge.

Good luck on your journey.

Hi s0litarys0ldier

Is there one particular mine or seller that you would suggest that could recommend for a corticule? I am well prepared to learn and it will be a life long learning process

Originally Posted by erobins

Hi s0litarys0ldier

Is there one particular mine or seller that you would suggest that could recommend for a corticule? I am well prepared to learn and it will be a life long learning process

Yes I would go directly from ardennes coticule or the straightrazorspecialist sells 150x40mm size for a good price. Can't go wrong with either.

The other possibility is to purchase from a member who has used and tested coticules so more or less you know what you're getting into.

You are right it is a life long learning process that only gets better with time.

If you are going natural, Arks and Thüringen’s are the most consistent of the naturals, I recently coached a new honer to use a 3 stone Ark progression and he is very happy with the results. An Ark edge is a very different and nice edge to shave with.

Thüringen’s are the 12k superstone of natural stone, they just work, but you do have to have a good solid bevel set and a bit of polish doesn’t hurt.

Coticules and Jnats are the most difficult stone to master, because of the wide variety of stone performance and with Jnats, the few that are razor quality.

Coticules are just, all over the map, as I always say, (and I own several 6-8) some folks love them, but lovers never own just one, and why are they always for sale? You don’t see Escher and good Thüringen owners selling, or looking for a better one.

If you are going Jnat, find a Good Seller, (Read threads/reviews, on the one you mentioned, there are several, here and elsewhere), spend some time on the Jnat forum and contact some of the more active guys for recommendations, we have several good, vendors as members.

And the same for Coticules, and for both be prepared to spend some cash, you really do get what you pay for, with those two stones.

Good advice from a trusted source, will save you lots of money and frustration.

Yes, coticules do vary from rock to rock, but almost all of them can be used quite successfully for maintaining a razor quite well. The fact that they vary is no different from the variety among razors, and brushes, or soaps, or strops.

Almost all coticules work just fine for razors. They are not necessarily all viable for "one stone honing" for going from bevel setting to finishing, but almost all of them are capable of maintaining a razor's edge in perpetuity.

I agree with those who recommend starting synthetic. To throw another synthetic into the ring, that I don't think was recommended, the Norton 4/8 combo stone. I still think it is a great stone, and it is definitely consistent, and repeatable.

I think of what the great jazz saxophonist Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker is reputed to have said, "Master your instrument, then forget all that stuff and play." (yeah I know, he didn't say 'stuff')

Anyway, the illustration fits I think. Begin and learn with the known quantity, and when you become proficient with that branch out into the wide world of naturals. IMHO.

Set yourself up for success and learn to maintain with a know stone, but more importantly what difference does it make unless you learn to shave, so synthetics. Tc