Major Dilemma

OK here we go it seems that i have this major dilemma going on and just not sure where to go or what to purchase. Being that I can be anal retentive and all and am looking to get the best out of any blade that is humanly possible. I need some information on purchasing some more stones :w I currently have a Norton 4/8 and also have a 6.000 grit that came with a previous set. but i am looking for something to do the finish work with and just not sure which way to go. Chinese, Shapton, Belgian. or what ever else is out there.
So there you have it and what a dilemma it is wouldn't you say:hmmm:. so i am asking all you experienced honemiesters and honers alike for your opinion. And thanks in advance for your responses

I would say that you will find positive answers for almost every possibilities of finishing stones you just stated. Personally I own a Belgian coticule and I am very happy with it. I know of people using Esher or German finishing stones that are very happy with them too, and the same goes for the Chinese or even the Japanese finishing stone; concerning "artificial" stones - if you don't like natural stones - Shapton looks like a very good brand...
I would say that you can go for whatever you like, want, dream of, or what your wallet will support... but don't forget that you will need to lap the finishing stones as well as the Norton.

My honing setup is:
DMC 8C for lapping
Norton 4/8
Belgian Coticule
Leather bench with 0.5 and 0.25 diamonds paste (I rarely use this one; usually the razor is perfect after the coticule)

Ok next question is the cuticle a finer grit so to speak making it better for finishing. i have been looking at some and am willing to pay the price just dont want to have something that is the same as my Norton

The Coticule is a finer hone than the Norton 8K and is used as a finishing hone - but I also know people who shave right out of the Norton 8K (I usually do that when honing: I shave just after the Norton to test the blade, then if she is "ready" I go to the finishing stone; if not, I continue on the 8K). I would say that a coticule is around 10K. I think that it is one of the best hone available that is both excellent and not too expensive.

If money is an important factor:
the better solution is a four sides paddle strop (1 - 0.5 - 0.25 Diamond or 0.5 Chrome - leather)
Then you have the Chinese 12k
Then you have the Shapton 16K
Following you have the coticule
Then you have the Shapton 30K
Then the Escher and the Japanese.

I always wanted to try an Escher or a Japanese hone, but they are far too much expensive for my wallet (usually from 300 to 500$, but you can find Japanese finishing stones for more than 1000$).

I would recommend to go for a coticule as they are excellent finishing stones (really) and not too expensive (just in case you don't like to hone too much, you will not have spent too much money on it). If you need more info you can contact ArdennesCoticule here on the forum.

But this is just my two cents.

thanks and yeah I was thinking the lines of a cuticle but just wasn't sure. And yeah I would love to spend a $1,000 on a hone but right now I just don't think the wife would approve at all. being that she is trying her darndest to get me back home again and I think i am just about ready just have no idea if I can stand to work an 8 to 5 job being that I have been doing 12 a day 7 days a week here you kinda get used to it and just what would I do with all that extra time LOL:roflmao

If your razor is shave-ready you need no more than a coticule oe 12K Chinese natural and a good strop to keep her going forever. Pasted strops are nice but you will still need a hone every now and then.

I currently have two in my possession that are shave ready. But during a major case of RAD I kinda went on a spree (Imagine that will ya) So needless to say I am going to need a quality hone to finish up the assortment I am currently awaiting. and was trying to figure out what would be the best bang for the buck (so to speak) and try to get everybody's input. But i think i am going to purchase a cuticle and try that. and then time will tell if I purchase something else down the line.

I can't improve on the suggestions above as they are all good. If $$ are not an issue I would say start with a coticule for the versatility and then as HAD sets in you can try the other options and see which are keepers and which you will pass along in the classifieds.

Yeah thats what i was thinking and so far the wife doesn't say to much about the RAD syndrome or my R/C stuff but I just got this feeling she might have something to say about HAD:rofl2:.
Nut straight up i would like to thank everybody's opinions on this. and yeah I would love to have one of those mega dollar hones but right now I would be terrified something would happen to being that as much as i joke about being on vacation and all I am still in a war zone and to have something like that ruined or destroyed would not be good on my attitude at all.

Well, money was an issue for me, and having bought the Norton 4k/8K and still wanting a finishing stone, I opted to go a cheaper route and get a coticule bout - a mis-shapen piece of coticule. It works well, but I find that the bout I got was squat (not overly long, not overly wide) which makes using it a bit of a pain. It's really the luck of the draw though, because some bouts are triangle shaped - so nice and long, but thin (which would have suited me perfectly).

If I had to do it again, I think I'd save my money and go the Shapton 16K route - looks like the most finishing bang for the buck - the only hitch there is figuring out how to lap it without buying that $200 lapping plate...

Mark

In truth, you do not really need a finishing hone; proper stropping will do you fine. A pasted strop will speed up the polishing process somewhat.

Dude, Just buy em all, You know you want too, you know you will eventually. You won't be satisfied until you've tired them all. First, contact Howard, spend the money, get the Coticule and BBW. The Holy Grail of Hones.

I just noticed your deployed in Iraq, Sorry Bro! I was there the first time in 91. Home you get home soon!

I meant, Hope you get home soon! I just got up....

Well for the pasted strop. thats something that i have never delt with at all or even seen except for video clips and all. Hones now are another story i have been sharpening my own knifes (yes a different animal indeed) and am very comfortable with a hone. and i am sure with time i will try the pasted strop idea but as of yet just not ready for it. think I might save that for when i get home and stay there LOL
Now as for buying them all yup sounds great to me but i just have this sneaky feeling that if i do I might have to build my next place of residence out of them cause the wife will draw the line:roflmao

What I take away from this, is that it's all personal preference. I've contacted Howard and will buy my first Coticule and BBW. It seems you can't go wrong with them. I will also try the paddle strop with some crox too. Stay Safe Bro!

ZIB,
I have been here since 2003. I get to go home about once a year for 30 days or so. But I believe in my program and my crew and that is the only reason I have called this place home for so long. But I believe that is coming to an end being that my wife has gave me the subtle hint that I need to come home. Guess the last time i was hit with an IED was a little too much for her. She has backed me in everything and anything that I have ever done. so i think come January or February i am going to hang my hat here and go home and play with my grandkids, dogs and horses oh and lets not forget about the razors.

First and foremost- THANK YOU for your SERVICE:tu

I use a combination of natural as well as synthetic hones. You'll find that each razor, depending on the material its made of, may require one or the other. IMO, there is no "ultimate hone recipe".

That said might I suggest a coarse Shapton on glass hone for setting bevels on difficult razors- ie a 1K or 2K. The 16K Shapton has proven to be an excellent finish hone and is still reasonably priced and readily available.

Personally, I cannot shave directly off a Coticule, the vintage Thuringians and Eschers are expensive but produce beautiful shaving edges. The 30K Shapton is fantastic-but VERY expensive.

Finally, a simple balsa paddle strop with CrOx is a great final polish-and is VERY CHEAP.

By all means-BE CAREFUL and bring your ass home in ONE PIECE!!

Lt Thanks, But it really has been my pleasure being here. the diversity of people is astounding to say the least. Now for the good stuff. I Have been looking at the shaptons for a little bit but am worried about how fragile they are. just one mortar in the living area and something falls off the shelf or something and wahla no stone or broken stone Shoot i have had Black hawks fly over my hooch so low that things actually fall of the shelfs and pictures come off the wall (yup near the airfield) in my old living area they would fly by so low and so frequent that it would pull the nails out of the wood holding it together. (not fun). So i think i am gong to lean towards a cuticle just because it is a little thicker and all. and plus in the next couple of months i have to pack all this junk that I have accumulated and send it home (not going to be fun at all) maybe big yard sale LOL. But I think the cuticle will be a great place for me to start from and in time i plan on expanding my so called collection

If you go the coticule route, may I sugest the 6"x2" since that is long and thin enough to work well without being awkwardly short or thin.

Of couse, YMMV.

Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Milton Man

If you go the coticule route, may I sugest the 6"x2" since that is long and thin enough to work well without being awkwardly short or thin.

Of couse, YMMV.

Mark

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+1 and even suggest the 6x1 for absolute blade and hone equal contact with the x pattern honing. MikeB

PS-I'm looking to add this to my collection from Howard sometime shortly. Many of the old razor blade smiths used narrow hones for the purpose of equal contact from heel to toe of the blade. I've bought five hones from howard in the past few years. You will gain much from him with a call or email.