Found a badly worn coti-BBW combo...I have a couple of questions

I don't have any pictures, because I hadn't decided to buy it yet (may go back Thursday to buy it..I doubt it's going anywhere), but it's rough. After I get it lapped all the way down, it will probably have 1cm of BBW and 2-3cm of Coti left on it. It's only $15. Will I get any real usage out of it?

Also, can I use a pocket-sized carborundum 103 as a Slurry stone? I have 3-4 of them, and I would be happy to relegate one to slurry stone only. I'm really trying to get into honing, but my furious RAD has sapped my funding, and I'm trying to get in relatively cheaply. I figure if this coti is fine, I can get a king 1000 to set bevels and not have spent more than $40 for my whole honing setup.

Thoughts?

2-3cm of Coticule is more then you get when you buy one new :D

A carb is probably not the best hone to use for slurry on a Coticule. You can buy Coti/BBW slurrystones from several place or you can get a DMT card.

I think you should definitely get it...

I'm not sure just a bevel setter and coti is the easiest way to start honing if you never have before. But if it works for you, great! If not...sell the coti for $75-$100+ (depending on size, shape it's in) and use that profit to fund your honing setup!

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Originally Posted by ryanjewell

I'm not sure just a bevel setter and coti is the easiest way to start honing if you never have before.

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I'm definitely aware of this and I'm counting on it. I want it to be a challenge. Also, I have over 60 blades in various states of restoration that need to be honed, and I have the time and many blades to practice on. I'm planning on getting some "control" blades honed by a few SRP members (not all by the same person) just so I know several good edges, maybe I can request a finish on a coti so I know what I'm looking for.

I currently have 3 carb 103s, 1 carb 104, a carb 105, and a very nice Thuringian I picked up at a antique store for $14. I've used those to great effect for maintaining my edges (passed hht3 with my daily shaver with a carb 104 and my thuri last night), so I'm not completely new to the processes and techniques involved, at least in finishing (I would say I'm damn good at finishing...lol)

Then I see no reason why not to get it...a coti is always a nice pony to have in the stable.

I hope I didn't get the dimensions wrong...as in how much BBW and coti are left. I'm terrible at eyeballing dimensions, and even worse with remembering what I eyeballed them at. This was over a month ago that I saw this stone, and I got to thinking about it last night while I was finishing my daily shaver and thinking about exactly what hones to buy. How much coti left would be too little for me to bother with it...Whoever used it before, used it a lot, and it was used unevenly. It's very very high on the ends and low in the center.

I'm trying to do this NOW to save money on the honing...lol I certainly didn't save money by switching to straights (as was my original plan), but I am hoping to not spend hundreds of dollars on a honing setup.

I think I'll start with this and a king, then maybe a norton 4k/8k and a nani 12k....

Yeah, you'll have to lap it...but for $15...if you have a solid white/yellow surface...and the BBW isn't poking through...and no significant cracks...it's worth it. They are hard stones and last a long time.

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Originally Posted by ryanjewell

They are hard stones and last a long time.

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If I can get it to last through honing the 60 razors I have currently, it will have served it's purpose...I want to get a good, new coti in the next couple of years, but it's not in the cards right now...but niether is paying ~20-25 per razor to get them honed either...lol

To the OP, 15 really is not that bad. If you have not already checked it out "TheSuperiorShave.com" has one of the best coti selection around. They show pictures of actual stock of their cotis (and most of thier razors), so you know EXACTLY what you are getting. There are some really reasonable deals on there. I just bought a 40x125mm rectangle stone for $35. If you are trying to save money, but want an excellent coti, try a bout in a particularly fast vein of coticule. They should offer the best value!.

Id buy the $15 one, (whats $15 you know??!), and check out what you can afford at the superior shave.