Thread: Coticle or Llyn Idwal as a finisher?

Haha, nice one. I have about 15 stones, the 10 been natural. Unfortunately, most of them are quite common. And for time being, I can't afford to buy a few exotic like roztsutec, wastila, or the bohemian slate for some reviews. Although all of them are quite cheap.
When i test this arguably Llyn Idwal stone, i can post you the results, and, possibly ask if anyone knows if it looks like a Llyn idwal, with a few more photos.

Here is an Idwal for reference. I have seen Idwals that resemble the one in your link, but they may also vary. I have a couple of hones from the UK which are green with the odd few speckles which I can not identify. Slow polishers and very hard.

The color of your stone is very close to that of all green CFs but I do think it's a LI. This type should be in the same grit range as CFs but harder.

If it's not flat have fun lapping

Edit: The top stone is from the auction, the bottom is one of my LIs.

I don't mind if it needs lapping. If it's charnley forest fine grit, I'm very happy, and, money well spend. Thank you

Can you audition them both?
The best coticules are hard to top and easy to use.

A lot depends on what you hone with now and
how this next hone fits in your kit and as always
what your face likes.

I have an ordinary coticule so I would go for
the Llyn Idwal. ;-)

Not sure what is your hone from those pictures. However for that money you can not loose. Well done.

Thank you adrspach. For what i know, coticules are quite soft, fast and forgiving stones. Llin idwals are, from what i have heard, very hard, glass like stones, and with a quick, wrong pass, if they are unchamfered, they can damage your blade. For the price, Llyn Idwals are cheaper. Between those two, I would prefer the coticule.

Why would you not chamfer your Llyn Idwal? If you don't chamfer your coticule you can damage a razor as well.

Who wouldn't prefer the more expensive stone?

Anyway LIs are currently kind of cheap because they're not well known not because they're no good. You have to use it first before you can know which finish for your razor you prefer.

So to conclude, you need them both

The price of a stone has a little to do with its honing qualities. And each hone doesn't offer a big variety of grits (with slurry, plain water or oil for some) so one stone usually is not enough. If you can buy them both, it would be a good idea, but they re addictive, so, be careful.