Thread: please tell me the hype on natural stones

I am sorry to disappoint but the described hypes are BS.

My Belgian combo:
* ... is very consistent. It never changes its behavior between honing sessions. I have a routine that *always* results in comfortable shaves. I do not care what other members' coticules are like - I only use mine.
* ... gets the job done fairly quickly and w/o the risks of overhoning. I overhoned on synthetic hones in the past and it was a major PITA.
* ... easily replaces three Shapton hones, including those in the hight price range. It does not require an expensive lapping stone either.
* ... looks lice, smells nice, feels nice.


I have a bunch of synthetic hones sitting in the drawer because I like the Belgian combo so much better!

As a variation of what has been said, I'll just say that synthetics are uniform (well, except for my US vs Mexican 4k hones) while the naturals vary.

The great thing about naturals is that sometimes you can come across a fantastic natural that will put a smile on your face because you know that you have something special, something unique, something that you can brag about as being the best thing that ever came from out of the belly of a mountain knowing full well that there is absolutely no possibility that anyone else can challenge your assertion because there is no chance that anyone is ever going to put a razor to your favorite hunk of earth so you are secure in the assertion that you, and only you, have the single best razor hone on the entire planet. THAT is why I do not own a Shapton, yet.

On another note, I'd just like to say that I am really enjoying OutlawSkinnyD's questions. Every now and then someone comes along and asks really great questions and it makes absolutely no difference whether it is the first or 20th time the question has been asked. Your questions contribute at least as much to the forum as most great answers and I am enjoying your perspective.

I use both natural (c12k, Coticule combo, Escher) and synthetics (Norton 4k/8k, Swaty, Japanese 1200). They all do what they are supposed to. I do like Naturals better, probably for the same reason I've driven manual trans cars for the last 25 years. I like the feedback I get from them, and I feel more in control.

If I has honing for a living I would probably use synthetic stones for speed and repeatability, but for just my razors and hobby enjoyment I would use naturals most of the time.

I have a Norton 4K/8K that has been sitting in the back of the closet for a long time.

I'm not in the razor honing business. I am sharpening a few razors for my personal use, so the time factor is irrelevant.

I like the fact that I don't have to soak my coticule like the Norton and the fact that I have to lap it less often.

The coticule takes up less space in my bathroom cabinet. I can hold it in my hand.

I like the fact that the coticule is versatile. I can use it with slurry, just water and even dry.

I love the smell of the natural stone but most of all I love the simplicity.

So skinny, the fact that you started this thread tells me everything. You are a natural hone aficionado that hasn't blossomed yet! C'mon skinny, Let your inner HADdict out...we know your in there!

When I first saw this post I didn't know how to respond. So many directions it could have gone for me... well after reading all these posts I'm glad I waited

While I'm not fully into one stone or the other, natural vs. synthetic, I do tend to have them for different reasons. I didn't know it till I got them lol... My kitchen knives are attached to the synthetics just due to the size of the stones, you try sharpening a 300mm slicer on the avg natural stone!!!! While my strait razor stone work is now just on my 2 naturals, a Japanese mid grade and a BB/Coticule combo stone.

We choose to take a step back wards and use a strictures for shaving, why not use the same era equipment to do the full job with? Not that using the newer space age stuff is bad, just not the direction I'm wanting to go.

Natural stones (as stated above) are unique to themselves. I love the looks of the individual stone, as well as how it looks in use. And as stated about the Japanese natural stones having an earthy aroma, it took me back to my days of running through the creeks

Synthetic stones are like McD's same ol thing no matter where you go, reliable in its consistency.

My only experience of a natural hone is the coticule/bbw, which I've settled on as my main hones (having started on the synthetic Nortons, which were great too). Everyone here has done a great job of describing the emotional/artistic/romantic reasons for preferring naturals, so thought I'd stick to a few more practical benefits of nats over synths.

- no soaking required
- very hard to overhone (has anyone ever managed to overhone on a coticule?)
- less lapping required
- better feedback (ok, a little subjective)
- more versatile (one coticule can do it all, though that requires much experience)
- less cost (yes! Think about it, if it's more versatile, and takes the place of two or three synths...)
- easier to handle: with synths you really need to hone using a stand, but I now prefer to hone with the stone in my hand, flat on my palm. Easily done with naturals, but can be awkward or heavy with synths -- anyone try hand honing with a DMT? Woah!
- flexible sizing: some of us prefer wider hones, some longer and narrower (e.g. for warped, smiling, frowning etc. blades). You don't get that luxury of choice with synths on the whole, but naturals come in all shapes and sizes.

Are you persuaded yet?

God Outlaw, you are so wrong and stupid, I love my naturals.

For me it's not the concept of it all.

I don't find them to be slow though after I set the bevel all I have ever used is a coticule.

When I got my coticule it was cheaper than a norton combo so that was one of my selling points, if you have a good eye you can pick one up on ebay for cheap.

And as far as consistency I will concur with what has been said before, there are differences between each stone but so far I have never had a problem honing on any of my stones regardless of the differences.

As I said, more than anything for me it's the idea of using something that came out of the Earth to hone my blades. I don't necessarily think they may be a better functioning stone, I just prefer them.

Good question though, I like these questions because I get to see other peoples rationale.

A valid question. I do the majority of my sharpening/polishing on synthetic hones, namely nortons. But I do enjoy having the last stones that my razor touches to be natural, coticules and eschers/thuringians.

For me it's really quite a pleasure to use a stone that was formed in the earth by nature, not by humans. Synthetic stones are indeed useful and I use them, but there's simple not that sense of appreciation and wonder than comes from using a naturally formed rock as a tool.

I agree that it depends on what you want to get out of honing. If it's purely for a sharp razor than synthetics will do you wonderfully IMO. But if you enjoy honing and want to use a stone with character than natural is the way to go. And hey, there's nothing wrong with mixing the two together!

Also Japanese naturals give off a nice earthy smell when using them. BTW did I mention the fact they are NATURAL.

O_S is right on the money here, it's such a
lovely smell!

- Scott