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I've seen a few threads lately concerning coticule sizes, and I was wondering which you prefer and why? There is quite a difference in size prices nowadays, so I'd prefer to keep this discussion to the 2" wide variety (considering the price for a 8x3 could get you a 30k shapton or a DGLP, or a..........).
Thanks,
Ryan
A lot of the old coticules and Eschers made especially for barbers and distributed by Pike and others were 6X 2 1/2 + a slurry stone. I have a couple of sets like that. Many of the old barber's coticules I have seen were 4 to 6 inches long X 2 or 2 1/2 wide. Say that to say that it indicates to me that barbers of old may have felt that was an optimum size. :shrug:
I have hones of the various sizes and I find that anything I can do with an 8X3 I can do with an 6X2. You will note that some find it easier to do a smiling or a warped blade on a narrower hone. Just my 2 cents.
H, and welcome, I'm a Neil Young fan myself...Coticules are a natural stone quarried in Belgium. Like the Escher, when their gone, their gone. The shapton 30k is nothing like a Coticule, while it is a fine finisher, it doesn't have versatility a good guality coticule does. A coticule is around 8k but can finish more like 12k when used with just water. With a slurry it becomes an aggresive cutter and can be used to reset a bevel, this you can't do with a Shapton 30k. Also, the garnet particles in a coticle are very unique and smooth, giving you a smooth feel when you shave.. Don't misunderstand, The Shapton's are fine ceramic stones, you'd just need a bunch to match the Coticule's versatility. The DGLP is mearly a lapping plate to keep your shapton flat and suitable for straight razor shaving. I like the 8x3 because I find it easier for honing. You don't have to do an X pattern. All my stones are 8x3's, except my Escher and a small barber hone that I have really for intrinsic value. If money isn't an issue, I'd go for the larger stones. I feel their easier to use. I can help you get a coticule for a good price, PM me....Rich
Thanks guys. There does seem to be a lot of personal perference regarding hones, which is only natural. As for my comparison of stones, I wasn't trying compare a coticule to a 30k or a Shapton lapping plate, only that the prices are comparable considering a lot of people balk at paying $200 plus for a lapping stone alone.
Thanks for the offer Rich, something to consider...........
I think it will partly depend on how you plan to use your hone. If you're just going to use it as a finisher, then I think the 6 inch would do you just fine. This is how I use mine, and it's something like 2x6 or so. However, if you plan to use a slurry and remove some serious metal, you might find the extra 2 inches worth the money (longer strokes = fewer strokes).
Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
+1
I totaly agree
I'm still fairly new to honing razors, but I like the 8x3's better. They seem to get me where I'm going faster. Yes, I can get the same results with a smaller hone, but I prefer the bigger ones when I can afford it. The smaller ones might force you to use an x pattern or some other stroke, though. I have pretty big hands and the 8x3's add a little more protection to the equation, too.
I've got a 6x2 coticule which I use, on some razors, first with slurry and then followed with water only for the polishing stage, if I where to hone a lot of razors, hone razors for others, I'd probably go with a 8x2 as the longer hone would speed up things a bit, for honing my own razors I find the 6x2 big enough as the few extra laps I have to do on the shorter hone really doesn't matter to me.
The 6x2 is fine it does everything I need it to, I use a thuringian for the final polish and it works great.
The only hone I have that isn't at least three inches wide is my Chinese 12k. It's about 1.5 inches or so. It took me a while to get used to it, but honestly, I love that it's that narrow. I certainly wouldn't want to set a bevel on such a narrow hone, but for a polisher...there's just something about a narrow hone that "works" for me. Other than a polisher, in my limited experience, I prefer big hones: 8 X 3.
i prefer the smaller coti and hones as they seem to hit the toe and heel a lot better than my 3inch wider hones
I've had both sizes, but only the 6x2 currently. They are both great
stones, but I'm not sure the 8x3 is worth the extra money.
- Scott
Most of my Coticules are "bouts" (irregularly shaped) As long as they have at least one long side that exceeds 5", I'm happy.
Bouts are cheaper than rectangular hones, and ArdennesCoticule has a larger stock of them, which gives them more options to fulfill particular wishes.
Bart.