Stone Widths: 8"/3" vs. 6"/2"

[sebell]

Folks,

I'm in the market for a Belgian Blue and Coticule stone
from Howard, and I've heard a few recommendations on
the different stone widths. Lynn seems to recommend the
wider and longer surface, but I think I recall Josh finding
the 6"/2" to be a better size when using the X-pattern
stroke.

Does an X-pattern stroke give inconsistent honing from
the toe to the heel on a 3" wide stone? If money is not
an object, what's the ideal width for the Belgian stones?

- Scott

[thebigspendur]

That is a very difficult question you ask grasshopper. Its like saying what is the ideal size car for everybody. Hones come in all sizes so its a matter of what size you personally like and feel more comfortable with. Some like barber's hones which are very small and some like very large hones. personally I like larger hones, meaning 3 inch across and 7 or 8 inches long. With a three inch hone you have the flexibility of going straight up and down the hone or doing X honing. You have more surface area to play with and you need to do fewer trips back and forth. I also have smaller hones but my Coticule is a larger one as is my Blue and I always gravitate to the larger ones.

I'm sure the small hone guys will chime in with why they feel smaller hones are better.

[Don]

I got the small and I am ready to sell to get the large IMHO if money is not the issue on the coticule get the large but if it is get the small they are great stones

[JoshEarl]

As you mentioned, I have the 6x2 size, and I haven't really felt the need for a bigger stone. Bigspendur's right about the bigger stones giving you the option of going straight across, although most vintage blades seem to have some degree of curve to the blade, usually right near the heel and toe. You'd need to do some type of rolling stroke to get these with a straight stroke.

The smaller sizes appeal to me because I like compact things. I like being able to fit all of my honing junk in a small shoe box. The smaller hones can be hand-held, which sometimes can be helpful.

Narrower hones can make coping with warped razors a little easier at times, although there are ways you can get them sharp on wider hones, too.

Get whatever appeals to you and fits in your budget.

Josh

[izlat]

Lol, Josh - I cannot call my hone arsenal *junk* - not with the prices on some of these puppies

Anyway, I guess I prefer to have both small and large hones

If I had to have just one - I would choose a small because it's more versatile for me, and easier to hold in hand. However, I certainly see how a large hone can be more convenient and faster for some razors.

When I say small - I actually mean width less than 2" - 1 or 1.5 works better for me. Short was never a preference for me but I would work with as short as 3" - if I have to.

Cheers
Ivo

[randydance062449]

I prefer the narrow hones, 1"-2", because they are more versatile. They can handle straight edges, smile edges and slightly warped/badly ground blades easier than a wider stone. Historically, they are the norm and I think that is for a good reason. The 3" x 8" size is a recent format. That being said I do like my Norton single grit 3x8's. Sometimes I will use the 3" side and when necessary the 1" side comes in handy.

Just my two cents,

[Howard]

There's a reason the make large hones. It's because bench stones, as they're called, are a heavier, more stable platform and you don't have to worry about the blade going off of the stone. Fewer variables = better results. My favorite belgian blue is 10" x 4" and that is one beautiful stone. My first time seeing one I thought how beautiful they would be as a backsplash on a kitchen counter top. They are heavy, they stay put, and you can really go to work. A set of 8x3 coticule, blue, and DMT Coarse and Extra fine are a beautiful site on your bench and you'll be set for a life of fruitful honing.

[JoshEarl]

Howard,

That is one monster blue.

The idea of a Belgian blue backsplash cracks me up. If I put one in my new bathroom, whenever my razor needed a touchup, I could just give it a few licks on the ol' countertop. (Slurry or no slurry?)

Josh