Thread: Yellow/blue coticule vs 4/8k norton ?

I got a coticule before I bought Norton 4k/8k. It took me a long time to understand how to use the coti. When I finally got the Norton, I lapped it and proceeded to hone two or three razors successfully. Then I decided to give the coti a try two months ago. I used the dilucot method and found that after some experience on the Norton I was able to successfully hone on my coti. Ever since then I haven't touched my Norton. I find my coti to be a wonderful stone. I can set the bevel and polish all with one stone. However the razor must not have any chips in it. If it does then a dmt or 1k hone would be need to remove the chips first. Cotis are definitely not beginners' stones but they are great and so much fun to use once you get the hang of honing. My coti also has a BBW side but I don't use it much because I don't have a BBW slurry stone.

I started on the romantic path using a vintage bbw/coticule with hopes of a single, do-it-all stone. I stumbled. Then I added a 1K bevel-setter (DMT1200). I skipped and frolicked. Now I use a Naniwa SS 1K followed by the bbw/coticule (slurry/water) and the C12K (sometimes). I run 5K races. (I'm no marathoner, but I'm happy with my time and distance.)

The point is...I think it's more important (edge-wise) to choose a good 1K bevel-setter than to decide between the bbw/coticule and the Norton 4K/8K.

(But choose the bbw/coticule. Natural stones smell really good!)


Christopher