Thread: Help me pick a hone

+1 on the barber hone. Coticules cost more, but they have the benefit of being able to work up a slurry to lower the grit if the razor needs more than just a touch up. They cant do bevel setting though, so if it gets to that point you'll need to send the razor out.

Originally Posted by Stubear

Coticules.... can't do bevel setting though, so if it gets to that point you'll need to send the razor out.

Not true. It depends soley on the individual coticule (mine probably couldn't do it as it's a fairly hard specimen), as demonstrated by Bart with his Unicot method. Yes, it does take some extra time, effort and experimentation but it is still very possible to achieve.

i have several coticules. i have one that is fast as lightning well as fast as my 1k naniwa if not quiker. I have one that that is a little slower about 4k/3k and one that is around 5k/6k. they allpolish very nice the slower cutter gives me avery soft smooth edge the quikest cutter give me a smooth yet crisp edge. pressure with slurry willspeed things up.

Originally Posted by Howard

Big question! If you're really intent on keeping your blade sharp as opposed to letting it get dull and then resharpening it, choose a finishing stone like a belgian coticule. The DMT 8000 will sharpen quickly but the resulting edge isn't face friendly. A DMT8000 is different from a Norton 8000 or Belgian coticule (8000). The results show up on your face.

+1 in my experience. I have used the DMT8000 in a progression with tough S-30V and ATS-34 steels but always went on to a higher grit finisher and with those particular steels diamond paste. Other than that I've not found a need for that plate. Also IME a coticule with slurry can be used as a bevel setter but it is slow going unless you have an exceptional stone. I prefer to use a 1k naniwa and go on from there with whatever I decide to use. An edge finished on a coticule with water only is a very smooth and comfortable one in my experience if it is properly set and sharpened through the progression. Like any other stone, setting the bevel properly and adequate sharpening are the prerequisite for finishing. Just IMHO.

i actauly prefer to use my 1k naniwa.reason being my fast coticule is not the thickest and i would hate wear it down. plus slurry can get a little messy after a while . like jimmy says once bevel is set i go straight to my coticule and that does the rest.

Re barber hones,, what would they be "grit" wise?

ex