Thread: Should I buy a belgian stone?

Thank you gents for all your comments.

I'll be looking at BST forum for Belgian hones and Nortons... I hope I can grab a good deal.

Thank you all

The Norton combo is a good basic stone set. The belgian coticule would actually be used after the yellow side of the Norton (8K grit). I recently purchased one from "the perfect edge" and have been very satisfied with it. It has improved the edge om my blades significantly.

You will never overhone on a Belgian and you don't have to soak them either. All the action takes place on the surface of the stone and it's important to have a good slurry going for that reason. I'm now offering two sizes of cotigura (a term I coined a few years ago to set the coticule slurry stone apart from the japanese slurry stone but to also honor the Japanese tradition). The regular is $18 and is bigger than that which usually comes with, say, an Escher, and the Large is big enough to use as a small hone.

Thanks Howard et al,

Are the stones that you sell lapped?

I'm not sure if I should ask this here and carry on this thread or PM Howard instead - moderators, what do you think?

Sorry for digging this up again, but I don't suppose I needed to start a new thread.

I saw this store on eBay - Best-Sharpening-Stones - and I was wondering if you can tell me if this stone, a tiny Belgian Blue 4K they're selling will be any good. I'm asking this because for the price this looks a good item, of course it's a tiny stone, but I guess some of you are used to stones of this size too, I guess. I'm afraid to order some larger and more expensive stone and get held in customs - to release an item here you have to pay 40% of the declared value . So much for the USD-Euro exchange rates.

Thanks

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I wouldn't compare the coticule and blue to a 4K/8K. The belgian combo is really for finishing and polishing while the 4K/8K is for restoration and general finishing. the blue acts more like a 6K but it is very slow. If your just looking to maintain and touch up you razors the coticule is perfect for that. If your going to be doing Eboy razors the Norton is better. Eventually you'll probably buy both anyway.

+1 I would totally concur.

Leon,

I really advice you to buy a yellow coticule, for sharpening razors. The blue is a bit too coarse to leave the fine edge most of us prefer. Furthermore it is very slow, completely incomparable with the Norton 4K. The only use a Belgian Blue seems to get by the people I know using it on razors, is as a mediator between a DMT1200 diamond hone and a yellow coticule.
If you can't find them in Portugal, you could try buying them directly from the quarry. They have an online store, but it's best to send them e-mail, and tell them what you seek. They 'll cut you a better deal than the pricing on their online store.
There's no need to buy a large one, many people prefer narrow hones, because they allow for better contact with the blade. Don't bother with selected vs standard quality: the difference is purely cosmetic, but if you intend to use it for anything more than finishing (polishing) purposes only, do ask for a fast cutter, in your e-mail. I have visited the quarry and received a two hour guided tour. Believe me, they do know the difference in cutting speed throughout their stock. If money is tight you can buy an irregularly shaped "bout" instead of a rectangular hone. They are cheaper, but again: no difference in performance. Just ask for a bout with one long side (tell them it's for straight razor honing)
Ardennes Coticule - pierres à aiguiser et moellons de Vielsalm Belgique.

I don't think you'd have customs department issues with shipment within EU.

Best regards,
Bart.

Thanks Bart, I'll contact these folks at Ardennes.

The answer to your original questions is:


Only if you want to.

Originally Posted by Bart

I don't think you'd have customs department issues with shipment within EU.

I also think it depends on which country you're in.

I've had several packages with a declared value of 300 - 500$, and never had to pay more than the 10 euro flat-rate-cant-be-bothered-to-fill-in-the-import-paperwork fee.

And other times I don't have to pay even that.
Luck of the draw determines IF customs looks at your package here, and if they do, they usually slap you with the 10 euro fee I mentioned. At least for razors / strops / stones.

I've heard that they are more zealous with electronics (buying PDAs in the states) etc