Thread: Why are honing stones so expensive? Has our planet ran out of its resources?

Honing Stones are great and fun to work with. A lot of substitutes on the market are priced competitively and easy to use. My in-house Economist is rubbing off on me.

Pabster

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Now if you had a mind to you could strike out on your own and probably find a source if you had the time and the money.

If any new sources are to be found, this is how it will happen.

Pre man-made there was a big demand for natural hones. Now it's just us, sword and knife enthusiasts, and maybe chefs and hi-end woodworkers.

Maybe I should start another thread, and I hope the moderators feel free to move this wherever they think it'd fit better.

As usual, I have a question.

Why are natural stones (considered) superior to man made ones? After all one would think that a well managed manufacturing process would create a consistency unparalleled by nature.

Forgive my pedestrian question, I know nothing about the subject.

Originally Posted by Snake

Why are natural stones (considered) superior to man made ones? After all one would think that a well managed manufacturing process would create a consistency unparalleled by nature.

I don't think you'll find any concensus that arrived at that conclusion, at least not around here. Naturals and synthetics have their fans, and each have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, most rock hounds are fond of, and collect, both.

It's kind of like why would you pay more for organic produce...its supposed to be better for you My best stone I have is my coti...I have my nortons as well but my coti hasn't let me down

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I don't think you'll find any concensus that arrived at that conclusion, at least not around here. Naturals and synthetics have their fans, and each have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, most rock hounds are fond of, and collect, both.

Well, while I haven't seen it explicitly stated that way, it's apparent to me that there's a bias towards natural stones. I don't mean this in a bad way. Nobody would pay $300 or $400 for a Norton, but they will fall all over themselves to get to a coticule or some other stone with a royal pedigree.

Not unlike many of you, I'm a great fan of all things natural. I will take wood over plastic any day. Just as most here would take a quality old item (I hate the term 'antique'... makes me think of dusty stuff kept behind a glass) over a cheaper modern manufacture arguably inferior product.

Still, I'm an engineer, and I can't ignore certain things. A bulletproof vest can be made out of silk, yet kevlar is better because it's performance is consistent and does not depend on what a worm ate. Given a choice, I'd take a silk shirt over a kevlar one without a moment of doubt, but when it comes to stopping a bullet, I'm partial to the known qualities of kevlar.

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

It's kind of like why would you pay more for organic produce...its supposed to be better for you My best stone I have is my coti...I have my nortons as well but my coti hasn't let me down

And I understand the point, loving to grow my own tomatoes and all.

You indicate your coti hasn't let you down... have your nortons? I'm not questioning the virtues of your coti, but, since you seem to favor it, what is that makes it 'better' than a man made one?

Now, I want you all to feel free to tell me to shut the freak out and go to my corner, and I will gladly comply on account that I don't know anything about honing. Hopefully you'll understand I'm just blessed with an insatiable curiosity and that's all.

Perhaps when I start honing things other than my kitchen knives I will understand; until then I depend on your kindness to try to.

Originally Posted by Snake

You indicate your coti hasn't let you down... have your nortons? I'm not questioning the virtues of your coti, but, since you seem to favor it, what is that makes it 'better' than a man made one?

Comparison would be: Escher-Ferrari - Norton-Ford Escort. They both will get you to where you want to go exactly the same, one is more fun and sexier than the other. Anyone of us can get a Norton anytime we want, but it takes some skill to track down an Escher, Coticule or Charnley Forest.

I use man-made stones up to the finisher where I use a C12k or Escher

Originally Posted by Snake

Well, while I haven't seen it explicitly stated that way, it's apparent to me that there's a bias towards natural stones. I don't mean this in a bad way. Nobody would pay $300 or $400 for a Norton, but they will fall all over themselves to get to a coticule or some other stone with a royal pedigree.

The axe guys will pay big bucks for a certain type of Norton (now not made). Obviously that's an exception though and doesn't really contradict your point, just thought I'd throw it in.

Originally Posted by Snake

You indicate your coti hasn't let you down... have your nortons? I'm not questioning the virtues of your coti, but, since you seem to favor it, what is that makes it 'better' than a man made one?

Originally Posted by rodb

Comparison would be: Escher-Ferrari - Norton-Ford Escort. They both will get you to where you want to go exactly the same, one is more fun and sexier than the other. Anyone of us can get a Norton anytime we want, but it takes some skill to track down an Escher, Coticule or Charnley Forest.

I use man-made stones up to the finisher where I use a C12k or Escher

Basically as Rod says its the comparrison...lol...you can find Nortons anywhere. Nothing against the Norton...it's a great stone and serves me very well...I normally use the coti as a finisher after the Nortons but I've had times when I've been frustrated with the progress on the Norton and I can go to the coti and use the dilucot method and get great results. It's just an all around great stone and I love it. But I must say the HAD hasn't quite struck me yet so I haven't got a JNAT or an escher or thuringan so I can't speak for those...but maybe one day soon

I use a Norton 4/8k and drive and Escort, I know about these items

But seriously you don't have to spend the the big bucks for naturals, you have to spend lots of hours and drive lots of mile to antique stores, flea markets etc to find them. I've gotten in the last two years 2 Eschers, 2 Coticules, a Pike natural and an Arkansas Translucent all combined for under $100