Thread: 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 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. 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

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.
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