Thread: What to get between 4/8k and CrO

Swaty
china 12k
diamond spray
Shapton 16k
black and red dovo pastes
good barber hone
coticule
Escher

All in 8 posts! I love you guys

FWIW, I'll throw in a Shapton Pro 15K (which is what I usually use between the norton 8k and the CrO )

Originally Posted by marosell

Whats the aprox grit size of a coticule? I was thinking about getting the Naniwa 12k. Not to say that I wouldn't mind spending less, just that I was thinking about it.

I'm also looking for a lapper to lap my norton and the naniwa if I get it. Hopefully the same one can lap both? Right now I'm using sandpaper on marble, but its a pain in the ass.

DMT D8C would work for lapping. If you want the Naniwa super smooth, you might wanna hit sandpaper for a tiny bit after, but really, I doubt you'd need to.

It's hard to give a Coticule a grit rating since it's a natural stone, and because the edge it puts on a razor is VERY smooth.

Originally Posted by marosell

Whats the aprox grit size of a coticule? I was thinking about getting the Naniwa 12k. Not to say that I wouldn't mind spending less, just that I was thinking about it.

I'm also looking for a lapper to lap my norton and the naniwa if I get it. Hopefully the same one can lap both? Right now I'm using sandpaper on marble, but its a pain in the ass.

Variable like all other naturals, but the general consensus is ~8K. Keep in mind, it's the "points" of the garnets that do the cutting & those are variable too ! In actual fact, it's pretty useless to assign a grit rating to naturals & coticules in particular, becuase they can be used so many different ways. If used only as a finisher, it should "act" like an unbelievably smooth 10-12k hone, while if used as an all-in-one hone, the sharpness will depend on how good a job you did in diluting the slurry--a real challenge, but very satisfying if you do it right. (I'm still not totally consistent on that method, but it is fun!)

Since you said you're using a Norton first (definitely the easiest way to go), the coticule would work like any good finishing stone (Chinese,Thuringian, Naniwa 12k, etc.) If you later decide you want to experiment w/ single coticule honing, you can use it for that too!

I use a D8C for lapping & it works well.

experience using the norton

gugi's spot on. As they say, no amount of hones will turn you into a honemeister. A honester, maybe. And it is entirely possible to go from the 8k Norton to Chromium Oxide.

Dont be like me. Stick to one set of hones(Your Nortons) and master them before buying more hones.

Trust me, you will thank me later.

Alright, so I re-pasted my CrO strop, and I my razors got significantly sharper when I stropped a few times on it.

For now, I'm going to stick with what I got. Thanks guys!

There are so many choice to follow an 8k, it's not even funny. The most affordable would be the Chinese 12k, with a slurry you can cut your honing time down.
I guess the next most affordable and a great hone is the Naniwa 12k. It really is a great finisher, I know it's one of Lynn's favorites. Now, if you have the cash, A Japanese Natural is about the best IMHO. I love my Nakayama's. Then, Escher. They are wonderful stones. I rotate between two because they are my favorite finishers....
I have the Shapton 16k too. I really don't use it much.

That's just rocks, You have Diamond Pastes, Sprays and Dovo Pastes, Chromium Oxide, etc.....

SRD has a hard wool felt strop, when used with their .5 diamond spray, it'll put one hell of an edge on your blade...I love using that strop....