Thread: J-nat & Coticule where to start.

Originally Posted by Goingst8

I have no stones now. That is why I'm asking. I don't want to have a big stock pile of stone would like just one or two. I want a stone to get me to shave ready and or to maintain it. After seeing the price of the J-nat and coticule for that matter I definitely don't want to spend 70-80 on a 4/8 when I want to get to the naturals and have a maintanece stone. I'm I wrong thinking that way. For that matter Mabe I just need to start with a barber stone and drop some more money there. Or is that the place to start just seamed to me that if all these people where so crazy about these stone that hey are so good why wast time and money on anything els.

People around here are more CRAZY than normal and that includes myself...

I would go with the 4/8k to begin with. The variables are then with you. Chances are you are going to make a mistake with the 8k and use the 4k. Way more consistent than a barber hone that is also man made. Once you get a reliable edge then you can chase the perfect one with a natural.

Originally Posted by 32t

People around here are more CRAZY than normal and that includes myself...

I would go with the 4/8k to begin with. The variables are then with you. Chances are you are going to make a mistake with the 8k and use the 4k. Way more consistent than a barber hone that is also man made. Once you get a reliable edge then you can chase the perfect one with a natural.

I never bothered to learn on synthetics, though I have had my razors honed on a Shapton 30k before, which was my reference point for comparison in my earlier posts.

Originally Posted by ShaveWares

I never bothered to learn on synthetics, though I have had my razors honed on a Shapton 30k before, which was my reference point for comparison in my earlier posts.

I don't know why you quoted me. I was not referring to you.....

Originally Posted by Goingst8

I don't want to have a big stock pile of stone would like just one or two.

Allow me to point out your FIRST obvious error. That is exactly how I started out and now I have 15 hones of various kinds.

I like all my hones, but I think the Coticule is a very good start and if you are happy with it, there's no need to move on from there. I actually don't use my Coticule these days, I'm dabbling in Jnats and such, but the old Coticule is still there....as my trusted backup, as are my complete set of Naniwa SS hones, BBW, 2 barbers hones, Thuringen, Escher and.... well... like I said at the beginning, thinking you only want one or two stones..... <sigh>

So, I would suggest you pick what you THINK you like, and see how it goes. Coticules and Jnats are both good, different for sure, but they are both good and can do more than just finishing if called for.

I got my Coticule and BBW from Howard and my Jnats from Garret, both will steer you straight on stones, but there are many other reputable dealers.

Regards

Christian aka

Kaptain "The hone you don't have is ALWAYS the better hone" Zero

I've yet to be satisfied from a coticule. This includes all my attempts at multiple stones and that of pro honing. Jnats on the other hand are my bread and butter. Contact jnats (username here) or visit his website japanese-whetstones.com. if you contact him he will make sure you get a stone that performs and can accommodate any price range. Good luck, it's a long, dark, expensive road from here.

How about some pics of this new, 30k BBW?

You guys know, this thread is 5.5 years old… right?

I want to see this BBW... We have been wasting our time and money...

Originally Posted by Euclid440

How about some pics of this new, 30k BBW?

You guys know, this thread is 5.5 years old… right?

I want to see this BBW... We have been wasting our time and money...

Dang it! They trolled me lol. Yea a 30k bbw seems like a far stretch of the imagination. I can't even get a coticule to shave my face against the grain, much less a coarser bbw. Now my jnat is probably in the 20-30k range, but that isn't far fetched.

Amazing bump. Not much has changed apparently ....

You use a bbw with soapy water only, it gives an edge similar to that from a 30k Shapton. I get BBS shaves going against the grain as well cuts that don't even warn you (like the 30k shapton edge) yet feel mellow and smooth to the skin. The key is spending enough time on the bbw with the soapy water. I'm talking like 200 or so laps.

Originally Posted by prodigy

Dang it! They trolled me lol. Yea a 30k bbw seems like a far stretch of the imagination. I can't even get a coticule to shave my face against the grain, much less a coarser bbw. Now my jnat is probably in the 20-30k range, but that isn't far fetched.

It's all in your technique and it is very doable. Those stones are as keen as any jnat if you employ the proper technique.