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What yellow coticule size is needed ?
Don't all jump in and say 8" x 4" lol
But they come in so many sizes and of course the price range can just dramtically with that.
For a beginner what is a good size to have ?
Is length as important as width ? ( please don't even !)
Thanks
I'd say somewhere between 1 3/4" to 2" wide & as long as your budget will allow. The longer it is simply means that you can get more work done in a shorter space of time, but any wider than that & you'll find it difficult to hone even slightly imperfect blades. Smiles etc are easier on a hone that's not too wide.
I think my favorite stone size is 8x3 inches. It just works very well across the board. It allows for a nice full stroke and assists in keeping the razor flat throughout the stroke. You have to be careful with 1 or 2 inch wide stones to keep the razor very flat for you X pattern to ensure no dings to the edge along the way.
Lynn
I like an 8X3 but I also do fine with a 6X2. I have noticed that my vintage Escher and Belgian coticules that were sold by Pike labeled Barber's Delight are 6X2. If I didn't have one and know what I know now I would get either of the above sizes in a natural blue/yellow and a slurry stone. If you are in the USA Howard at the Perfect Edge can supply you and in Europe Rob at Ardennes Coticule.
It really depends on how adept you are at keeping your razor flat. If you have trouble with that, then you are better off with a 3" wide expensive stone. If you can hone on a barber hone, all of which are between 1.5" and 2", then you can go that way with a coticule as well and save money. Most of my coticules are narrow and I like them just fine. As already stated, the advantage of more length is it will result in fewer strokes so you are really paying for your time.
I prefer 2 inch wide for razors with a straight edge but 1-1.5 for smiley blades.
An 8x3 is nice but its really what your comfortable with and for certain jobs a narrow hone is what you need.
I have a preference for ≈ 2"x6". Anything over ≈ 3/4" wide and 4" length works well for me. I like 3"x8" ok too, especially for lapping.
4" x 2" $ 50.00
6"x1.5" $60.00
6" x 2" $ 80.00
6" x 1" $ 55.00
8" x 2" $ 150.00
8" x 3" $ 190.00
see this is why I asked as the prices jump very quickly when you move from one size to the next.
Thanks for the input ....
I use and prefer the 8x3 simply because it gives you more surface area. A 6x2 will work just as well, as will a nice size bout. it depends how much honing you plan on doing. A no5 bout is about 12in sq. You can pick them up cheap. I can make you a better deal than you'll find any where on the web, PM me if your interested....RichQuote:
Originally Posted by Earthdawn
Since I've started honing my razors several years back I've bought the wide stones for the steadiness factor. Over the time I've gone to the two inch stones and found I like the feel much better.
I'm now considering purchasing the 1"x6 Coticule on Howard's site. The reason I'm considering this is it is about a third of the width of a straight blade. Using such a narrow stone would provide the most even wear along the length of the blade in beginning, middle and end of the stroke while using the x pattern.
My personal belief is that the narrow dimension of many vintage stones is perhaps for this reason. No I don't have anything factual to back up my supposition.
It seems that most of us eventually get several of different sizes as this is a fun and ever desiring more gear kind of hobby.
MikeB
I would also agree that it's all about personal preference. I think something around 1.5 inches wide might be the most versitile, since they are decently wide but should still be effective for warped/smiley blades.
Hello Earthdawn,Quote:
Originally Posted by Earthdawn
in my experience 20 x 5 cm is a good size. It is also possible to hone razors with irregular spine.
I currently have a 1 1/4" x 6" coticule, and I like it very much. But, with the narrower stones, as it was mentioned above, are a little harder to keep the razor flat on while honing. I say if you can keep a razor flat on a narrower hone (i.e. 1"-2") go for that, but if you have difficulty with keeping it flat go for the wider.
I think the reason more experienced honers, i.e. Lynn, prefer the 3" wide ones is because they have advance techniques that they can use to account for warped blades even on a wide stone.
I recently ordered a 8"x2" from Howard. That seems to be the nice compromise for me between a wide and narrow hone.
Dave