Thread: Which hone for finishing?

Darn. I had almost forgotten about the 12k Chinese. I just got one in, and am waiting to try it. As far as the quality control, I'm basing that on statements Tony Miller had made (he used to sell them) about being unable to get good ones consistently anymore. Quality control isn't the right word, probably. I guess I should have said that it's apparently hard to mine good ones anymore, and the old rock ones are superior. So far, I like the Chinese, but haven't really experimented with it enough to know for sure. I got the 8x2x1, and it was only $19.98. Got two, actually, and cut one up for rubbing stones, since a big chunk broke off it right away. I'm definitely interested in what Tony's going to have coming up on his site, too, so I'll keep an eye on it. As far as a Swaty, I don't know, having never used one. I'm definitely actively searching for a Frictionite 00, though.

What about Arkansas natural stones?

Frictionite 00? I think I may have seen this come up somewhere before... is this a finishing stone as well? What kind of information can you lend on it? And if you would, keep me posted on that 12k Chinesse stone works out for you... I think I will try to toy with the Norton 4/8 for a while and keep searching for a good finish stone... im sure I'll need the time to toy with the 4k/8k before I really need a finish stone anyhow.

I have a 15K Shapton, and a coticule. I've personally had better results with the coticule.
E

Translucent arkansas works, and black arkansas probably works as well. They're very slow, and I wouldn't use them for primary honing. It's not in the same class as the fine shaptons and coticules and fine pasted strops. I've got a razor that's finished on pink translucent thats given me some of my best shaves, but the edge definitely isn't as refined as you get from the fine grit hones and pastes. It does work well for my beard because the edge seems to be tougher than the finer hones, and seems to cut my coarse beard very easily. I'm still experimenting with it, but the initial results are very intriguing. PM me if you're interested.

As for the coticule vs shapton debate, most of the guys that own both prefer the coticule. However good coticules are hard to come by while the Shapton is a couple of clicks away.

For starters, try to finish with the Norton 8000 only. If you feel you need sharper edge, search for alternative, which will be hard to find.

Nenad

I use a 12k (Japanese) as well as a pasted paddle strop (0.5 & 0.25 µ) for the ultimate refinement of the edge. The bulk of the work is done on the Norton combo however. The rest is just gravy.

X

Originally Posted by Billy

Frictionite 00? I think I may have seen this come up somewhere before... is this a finishing stone as well? What kind of information can you lend on it? And if you would, keep me posted on that 12k Chinesse stone works out for you... I think I will try to toy with the Norton 4/8 for a while and keep searching for a good finish stone... im sure I'll need the time to toy with the 4k/8k before I really need a finish stone anyhow.

I have one, and as I remember it's two-sided. Fine side is good for finishing.

There have been quite a few threads here over the past few months addressing the Coticules. I had good luck with some and the customers loved them. Others were nothing but grief, not giving my customers the edge they expected on $125-175 stones. The good ones are still cranking out shave ready edges, the bad ones went back to where they came from.

I tried several European suppliers and never really got one I was comfortable representing as I coud not always get usable stones. I am sure there are still plenty of good, recently quarried Coticules out there but just make sure that wherever you buy from you have the option of returning it if the edge is coarse after honing. If you get a good one you will love it.

The new stones are being tested by people I trust first before any go up for sale. As always though, you buy from me, you don't like, you send it back.....what's not to like?? <g>. I do still get vintage Coticles and Eschers from time to time and maintain a waitlist for those items.

Tony