New Toys! (Hones)

I am a very happy camper! These showed up today.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/...faa534bd_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/...e9b56a29_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/...2a1758bc_b.jpg


I was so dizzied with looking at individual coticule pictures and hemming and hawing over which one to get that I decided to just bite the bullet and order one I couldn't see first. It is a Boker branded coticule, genuine Ardennes, very great bargain for a long rectangular stone if anyone is in the market. Very nice presentation in the box pictured, and looks to have been lapped/beveled by Boker.

The other is a Dan's Translucent Arkansas that I am looking forward to playing around with.

Natural stones are cool! Each unique like a snowflake...

Happy St. Pat's! :beer1:

Very nice. I've had no experience with the Translucent Arkansas stone, so I hope you'll keep us posted about how it does for you.

sffone, bear in mind I am new to all of this but here are my thoughts so far. I've spent some quality time with both stones and I must say I love the translucent arkansas hone. I've been using one side of it to generate slurry on a waterstone and the coticule, to help smooth the surface, and have not used oil on it - just water. I really like the feel, it gives great feedback, it is so tactile that at times I didn't even have to look at the blade while honing. If anything is amiss or rough on the blade when you are just starting on the stone, it will feel and sound almost like nails on a chalkboard which will subside fairly quickly. If everything is going well it glides across like an ice skate, and has a nice "tink" sound every time you lay the spine down. As the blade gets near completion it has a buttery glide, with a slight "suction" feeling. It is definitely very slow, but I have found I get good results starting off with a decent amount of pressure and then gradually lessening. My final edge will pass a TPT and HHT, the latter being a "4" result.

As far as the edge, keep in mind I am a noobie but I was able to shave ATG off it no problem after just stropping, no compounds. I am working out the angles in my technique but let's just say that "parts" of my face were BBS. I did not slice myself but did get a few of those little bleeders that pop up without even realizing they happened.

I have still not gotten the hang of finishing on the coticule. I think mine is a "slow" one, I will continue to experiment with it. It has been very helpful in getting the edge refined with slurry before moving to the translucent. Also has a very nice feel, but in a totally different way from the arkansas.

Thanks for the followup on the Arkansas stone. I would never have thought to use one with straight razors. However, based on your evaluation, I'm going to get one and give it a try. Thanks again for the feedback!