Thread: Belgian Coticule as finishing stone?

+1's on all that.

Read around and know what you are asking for- get a medium .

You will likely not get the finest shave-that's not what I meant when I say you'll miss out. Mine just gives a real shave like just enough tug so that you always know where the edge is while leaving as clean a first pass as you get

If you email Rob at Ardennes and specify what you want to do with it he says that he can pick the hone appropriate for your needs. I have four coticules and they are all different but the differences are subtle with three of the four. One is harder then the other three and is a nice finishing stone. I love coticules and if I could only keep one hone it would be a coticule.

Yes, you could get a comfortable shave finishing with a belgian coticule. Many have and do just that. It would be impossible to tell you to do "x" number of laps though. I personally have 2 coticules and both have completely different characters.

Bart, makes an extremely valid point- DO NOT expect the coticule to make the edge sharper though. It's task with water is to smooth and refine the edge. Although I personally never finish with a coticule-I think they belong in your hone "arsenal". No 2 razors hone alike and giving a distinct set of instructions on how to hone them just isn't going to work. It'll take some experimentation-but that's part of the fun! (or frustration)

There is almost no better stone than a Belgian Coticule. All you need is good strop and a nice coticule. You will be set for life.