Thread: Suggestions for next hone - Belgian

So I'm looking for my next hone. I've decided to go with a natural because of the love of the coticules on here. Here's some questions first to help me make sure I'm making the correct decision. Is there a difference in the actual finish from a standard to a select grade coticule? I've been looking at either a standard or select Belgian Yellow. The other choice is a combo stone with the Belgian Blue on one side and yellow on the other.

Belgian Yellow and Blue Coticule

I really like the Belgian combo but you can also get a slate backed yellow and a BBW. Same thing just not as compact a package. I am pretty sure the only difference between a select and a standard is cosmetic.

I know that if you were ordering directly from Ardennes you could tell Rob you want it to hone razors and he would make sure you got a coticule appropriate for that purpose. If it was me I would give your Canadian vendor a call and make sure that they know what you want it for. I'm told some of them are of a consistency that is better for planes or chisels.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I really like the Belgian combo but you can also get a slate backed yellow and a BBW. Same thing just not as compact a package. I am pretty sure the only difference between a select and a standard is cosmetic.

I know that if you were ordering directly from Ardennes you could tell Rob you want it to hone razors and he would make sure you got a coticule appropriate for that purpose. If it was me I would give your Canadian vendor a call and make sure that they know what you want it for. I'm told some of them are of a consistency that is better for planes or chisels.

Thanks Jimmy. I had hoped you'd answer. Fendrihan sells specifically hones, strops as well as straight and DE Razors. They're the closest to me and I've actually spoken to him personally. In fact my first DE razor, a Merkur 38C, I bought from him. I will ask to make sure, but I wasn't worried about the hone being better for planes and chisels. Thanks for making me aware of that.

Originally Posted by Cove5440

Thanks Jimmy. I had hoped you'd answer. Fendrihan sells specifically hones, strops as well as straight and DE Razors. They're the closest to me and I've actually spoken to him personally. In fact my first DE razor, a Merkur 38C, I bought from him. I will ask to make sure, but I wasn't worried about the hone being better for planes and chisels. Thanks for making me aware of that.

I'm going by what I've read in posts from Rob at Ardennes IIRC... I would bet if Fendrihan is a dealer in straights and other shaving gear he will have the right stuff but it doesn't hurt to ask. You can't beat free shipping either.

If you want to learn more about bbw/coticule's then I would go here and read everything you can. Ask questions and Bart or someone on that board can answer just about anything you want to know about them.

Ray

He may not be the least expensive when you first look at it, but up here in Canada we have to worry about duties, shipping accross the boarder and all that fun. Not always, but sometimes what looks like a good deal may be the same cost or more bringing it from the US. I really like supporting the local guys too.

My other possible from him is the Naniwa's:
Naniwa Sharpening Waterstones

I got some naniwas to start and they work really well. Can't speak to coticules though, only used one, and so variance negates that.