Thread: A good webside for buying stones for honing within EU?

Hi!
I am on the lookout for stones to use when honing. I seen all the films on youtube and other places how they use them. But is there any real good site within EU (I live in sweden) for buying a good stone? And what stone should I go for for basic honing?

The Perfect Edge

Yes, it is in the US, but trust me on this: the stones are much cheaper than the same stones in european shops. IF you can find them. And that's a pretty big if sometimes.

As for which stone to buy:
If you're new to honing, a coticule or a norton 4k/8k is imo the best stone to use.
There is also the DMTEE, which is an 8K diamond plate. Several people have used it with good results, and it is low maintenance and easy. But I cannot comment on those because I never tried them.

But do not forget the VAT! For me in the Netherlands that would be 19% + 5% handling charges on both value of contents + value of the stamp!

The Invisible Edge at NEW! Belgian razor hones in the UK is now selling coticules and they are a better deal than the Perfect Edge. It's not exactly apples and oranges because Steve is selling "bouts" and not rectangular hones, but a "bout" is all you will need, plus his hones include a piece of rubbing stone for raising the slurry.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

The Invisible Edge at NEW! Belgian razor hones in the UK is now selling coticules and they are a better deal than the Perfect Edge. It's not exactly apples and oranges because Steve is selling "bouts" and not rectangular hones, but a "bout" is all you will need, plus his hones include a piece of rubbing stone for raising the slurry.

Well I checked the prices with pound to dollar conversions, and the stones at the perfected edge are much cheaper.

The invisible edges stones are about $132 american to ship to the EU if my figureing is correct.

The perfect edge has stones for $78 for a 6"x2" so even with adding in a slurry stone and shipping it should still be less. He sells bouts for $65.

So with the weak dollar it is seems likely that buying from america might well be the cheapest option.

Originally Posted by PonderingTurtle

Well I checked the prices with pound to dollar conversions, and the stones at the perfected edge are much cheaper.

The invisible edges stones are about $132 american to ship to the EU if my figureing is correct.

The perfect edge has stones for $78 for a 6"x2" so even with adding in a slurry stone and shipping it should still be less. He sells bouts for $65.

So with the weak dollar it is seems likely that buying from america might well be the cheapest option.

Actually, the prices are about the same. Bout = $65.00, Slurry stone = $18.00, VAT (20%) = 16.60 and shipping $32.00 (when I ordered a Norton flattening stone from Howard) = a total of $131.60, while the prices from the Invisible Edge include shipping and there is no VAT. I'd say it was a wash except it will arrive faster and with less hassle from the UK. I don't know how Howard's coticules come, but the one I bought from the Invisible Edge came in a nice box with foam liner to hold the stones.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

Actually, the prices are about the same. Bout = $65.00, Slurry stone = $18.00, VAT (20%) = 16.60 and shipping $32.00 (when I ordered a Norton flattening stone from Howard) = a total of $131.60, while the prices from the Invisible Edge include shipping and there is no VAT. I'd say it was a wash except it will arrive faster and with less hassle from the UK. I don't know how Howard's coticules come, but the one I bought from the Invisible Edge came in a nice box with foam liner to hold the stones.

I figured that the shipping was included, but did not understand how the VAT worked, and figured that buying from any outside country would be the same.

Originally Posted by PonderingTurtle

I figured that the shipping was included, but did not understand how the VAT worked, and figured that buying from any outside country would be the same.

We live and learn ... In any case, Howard at the Perfect Edge is very knowledgeable and friendly and offers a lot more honing products than the Invisible Edge. For example, I had originally bought my Norton 4K/8K from Executive Shaving in the UK but when I needed the flattening stone I had to go to the Perfect Edge. In the context of this particular thread, the recommendation of a coticule is very good and, thus, my suggestion of the Invisible Edge.

Originally Posted by PonderingTurtle

So with the weak dollar it is seems likely that buying from america might well be the cheapest option.

I live in Belgium.
50 km from a shaving shop where they sell coticules, and about 100 km from the quarry where the coticules are mined.

And I still bought my 8x3 coticule from Howard at the perfectedge.
Even with shipping and the mandatory 10 euro customs fee, it was still a good deal cheaper.
All thanks to the weak dollar.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I live in Belgium.
50 km from a shaving shop where they sell coticules, and about 100 km from the quarry where the coticules are mined.

And I still bought my 8x3 coticule from Howard at the perfectedge.
Even with shipping and the mandatory 10 euro customs fee, it was still a good deal cheaper.
All thanks to the weak dollar.

I guess you don't have time to read every post. When comparing apples and apples (a bout from Howard to a bout from the Invisible Edge) the weak dollar makes no difference. The Invisible Edge doesn't sell an 8x3 coticle and I don't know what the shaving shop in Belgium charges.

Besides, the weak dollar is only favorable for goods produced in America. It has no effect on goods produced in Europe that are shipped to the US and then back to Europe (except for the extra shipping cost).