Belgian Hones

Hello all, its me again. I am still looking around at hones and have come across information that purports that a belgian coticule stone will put a much finer edge on a razor. Have any of you used a belgian hone, if so does it indeed work better? i have found only one link (so far) that sells belgian hones. It is: http://www.shaving-and-razor-shop.co...jpstenen-e.htm .

BTW, after reading through the proper technique here my honing (using the norton 4k/8k) is alot better. I didn't know i had been doing it poorly for almost 2 years!!! But then again i have/had never shaved with a properly honed razor before.

Jim

I can tell you from personal experience I find the coticule puts a higher quality edge on your razors. I have both the Norton and the yellow and blue stones and thats my experience.

You can also get them from Tony on this site and Howard at theperfectedge.com

I just got a Belgian Coticule from www.theperfectedge.com for about $60.00 with shipping. Tony Miller recommended the site. The edge is phenomenol after using the Yellow Belgian. I highly recommend getting one if you want a sharp edge.

Just my opinion,

Jim :cool:

Jim,
Hmmm, I must have been out of stones......usually I recommend myself <g>

Tony

What's the blue side for? Is it comparable to 8k grit or should I not bother using it and do 8k/yellow instead? (i expect one to arrive in a couple of weeks)

It depends on what type of stone you bought. If it is a natural, meaning it was quarried in one piece the blue is about 4k stone. Most Belgians though are bonded with the yellow coticule glued to a slate backing which is not used for honing.


Tony

Thanks Tony. Even if it's 4k, it's still too rough. I'd rather use the yellow with the 8k Jap then. Am I supposed to use the pyramid or can I just get away with using the yellow once I hone it with the 4k/8k japs? By the way, you were out of stock when I ordered this one lol.

I couldn't get by without my yellow coticule. Makes all the difference in the world.

I LOVE my coticule....and use the slate on the back for prep honing. It works wonderfull. Maybe it's a blue piece though....could be I don't know.

Thanks for the info. I will be ordering one soon. BTW Tony your site does say you are out of stock on the stones.

I think i have caught the honing bug or something. I have started to look around the house and eyeball knives :-)

Jim

Jim,
I am temporarily out of stock on the Belgians. I am pretty picky about them and will only carry certain ones from this point on. I sent a few out for evaluation and refined what I will sell.

I wish I could find a source for stones similar to the escher stones from germany.

Tony

The blue stone is a very slow stone as compared to the norton 4K. In my experience I think the blue is closer to 6K.

Three easy ways to tell the blue from slate: (1) Slate is black or dark grey and does not give off a colored slurry on wet sandpaper. The blue stone is deep red and (2) sparkles (it's the garnets) in strong light or sunlight when viewed with a magnifying glass. It gives off the redish-purple slurry on wet sandpaper. (3) If it is a coticule with slate you will usually see a binder material in gaps where they meet. Here is the site where I bought my first coticule with the help of our Belgian daughter-in-law (French speaking and father's family is from Vielsalm). I think they have English speaking/writing people at the firm also.
http://www.ardennes-coticule.com/engels.htm
Monte

Quote:

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Originally Posted by monte6177

Three easy ways to tell the blue from slate: (1) Slate is black or dark grey and does not give off a colored slurry on wet sandpaper. The blue stone is deep red and (2) sparkles (it's the garnets) in strong light or sunlight when viewed with a magnifying glass. It gives off the redish-purple slurry on wet sandpaper. (3) If it is a coticule with slate you will usually see a binder material in gaps where they meet. Here is the site where I bought my first coticule with the help of our Belgian daughter-in-law (French speaking and father's family is from Vielsalm). I think they have English speaking/writing people at the firm also.
http://www.ardennes-coticule.com/engels.htm
Monte

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ok, mine goves off slurry.....but is black/blue....but since it works I'm going to continue using it anyway.

Kinda weird though how a "blue" stone is red isn't it?

Monte,
Good description. One can clearly see a grain structure in the blue stone which is usually a real purple/blue color. The slate is black and of such fine grain it appears a solid black color with no grain or crystals seen.

On vintage stones many times you will find the blue bonded to the slate with a binder much like the newer coticule/slate stones. These are different wfrom the naturally occuring ones in thet the seam is perfectly flat and straight where they may vary on a natural.

Tony

Is the fine grit of a coticule similiar to using a pasted strop? I ask because I was looking to buy a coticule to fine hone my razors if the coticule could also serve the purpose of freshening up a blade like a pasted strop so I wouldn't have to worry about buying a pasted strop in addition to my hones. I noticed to that the yellow coticule has the same grit as the norton 8000. If so, does it finer hone a razor than the 8000 grit norton?

The Yellow Belgian coticule is regarded as finer than the Norton 8000 and some people are using it instead of a pasted strop. I am currently using all three.

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Originally Posted by filmecyan

Is the fine grit of a coticule similiar to using a pasted strop? I ask because I was looking to buy a coticule to fine hone my razors if the coticule could also serve the purpose of freshening up a blade like a pasted strop so I wouldn't have to worry about buying a pasted strop in addition to my hones. I noticed to that the yellow coticule has the same grit as the norton 8000. If so, does it finer hone a razor than the 8000 grit norton?

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How often should it be used for touchups, both for carbon and stainless blades?

Only when needed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

How often should it be used for touchups, both for carbon and stainless blades?

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ok, I have heard some of the folks say work up a slurry on the coticule. Do you work it up by honing the blade with water only or do you use some water with say 600 or 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper first and then start honing for the very first time?


Jmy. Ellis

And how often should it be on average?

When your razor gets dull. I touch up mine every 7-10 shaves...

Nenad

I use water and another small Belgian yellow coticule to generate the slurry. You could also try a nagura stone. I would never use sandpaper to generate a slurry.

Just my way,:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CaptMdnght

ok, I have heard some of the folks say work up a slurry on the coticule. Do you work it up by honing the blade with water only or do you use some water with say 600 or 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper first and then start honing for the very first time?


Jmy. Ellis

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