Thread: Recommended size of Coticule?

What is a good working size for a coticule? Since the price goes up as the size goes up, what's a good balance?

I'm looking at a 4.9" x 1.6" for $36.36 or a 5.9" x 2" for $61.15. That's almost double the price but may be much easier to work with. Thoughts?

Tom

Of course it depends what your comfortable working with however the general consensus is that it should be wide enough so that the razor stays on it while doing a straight stroke anotherwords the same width as the razor. As far as length goes probably 6-8 inches.

I would say 150mm-40mm is OK size for straight razor sharpening...

Nenad

If I had to budget on a stone, any stone I do think length is more important than width. You can do an X pattern to make up for a narrow stone but you really need a certain amount of length to set up a decent stoke and still be sure the spine is not raised when honing. On a short stone it seems a little harder to do.

Of course if you want this for just a few touchup strokes that is different, a short one may be just fine. I have a few Belgians and a few Eschers and typically use a 2x8 Belgian and a 1 1/2 x 8 Escher over the other sizes.

Tony

The smaller one will work fine. I have found that an X pattern works best and narrow is fine as most razors are slightly out of straight anyway and will ride the narrow hone better on both sides. See post on other Belgian hone thread.
Monte

I'd say the 6x2 is about right. I wouldn't feel comfortable with a smaller one, but you might be able to make it work for you.

I'd go for the slightly larger size as well. Although you can get the job done with the smaller stone, you'll get better results having that extra space until you develop your honiong skills further. I suspect you'd be glad you made the choice of larger rather than smaller.

X

I'll add my opinion to the throng, go for the larger one if you can afford it. However, as some of you may remember from an earlier post, I had a combination belgian blue/coticule fall into my lap for a song. It was included in a baggie with three razors for the staggering price of $3.35! The stone is 1 3/8" x just under 6". I use it to finish all of my razors and although working on a stone that narrow took some getting used to, it's really not that difficult.

Bottom line, large or small, get a coticule...it will really take your honing to the next level.

Just another data point,
Ed

with a belgium size is not important while you use an x stroke it is very abreviated not like x stroke on norton...stroke is not more than 3-3.5 inches...it feels like very exagerated x...the blade stroke is down and diagonal then up and diagonal...blade should come off side of stone in each direction...keep the blade in the slur which is thicker with short stroke rather than spread the length of stone and thinner slur...

Testing the searchg function I was wondering what size coticule I should get. TBH all the available sizes seem rather small. Yes, you're supposed to hone diagonally, but still. What's an easy to use size other than the largest one?