Save a few more bucks, and get the Norton 4/8 combo. You'll be glad you did. Coticules are great, but vary greatly from stone to stone. If you wind up with a hard, hard finisher, we'll, you going to have a tough time doing anything else. Save some money, and get one down the road, after you've learned how to hone. They can be challenging, but very rewarding too..It used to be cheaper to buy a seperate bbw and Coticule, rather than a combo stone. Prices have skyrocketed, so I don't know anymore...