Thread: Need help with hones

Hello, it's me again...
I have decided to buy some honing equipment... I did some research and found out that this kind of stuff is very hard to find in Croatia and that this is also very expensive, since I am a student and have pretty tight budget...
So, I was wondering if this kind of stuff will do for honing a razor?

It costs around 200 kn (35$)...

If it's not good for honing a razor I won't buy anything until I'm 100% sure...
Any tips are welcome...
Thanks...

You can't go past a small yellow coticule if you are on a budget and only want one stone.
I just bought a 125mmx30mm & can't speak highly enough of it.
Those spydercos are a little coarse for final polishing.

+1 buy a yellow coticule, its the best all around hone for razors!

Yes, but the thing is, I am from Croatia, and those things are here hard to find...
I found today a hone with 400 FEPA or 700 JIS grit... And it is the highest grit I could find around here...
Can you please tell me what is yellow, blue, or any coticule used for, maybe it could be found in those stores with paints, colors, polishers and stuff...
And if I don't find anything I'll have to hone my razor with wet sandpaper...
Or order something from somewhere...

Kinda stupid situation...
Any help is appreciated...

Actually, I wonder if that hone, along with a Spydero UF, might not be so bad. I have only used the Uf and it works fine. The advantage of such a set would be no need to lap it.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Actually, I wonder if that hone, along with a Spydero UF, might not be so bad. I have only used the Uf and it works fine. The advantage of such a set would be no need to lap it.

You can get your coiticules straight from the quarry's shop: Ardennes Coticule - natural sharpening stones from Vielsalm Belgium. - Online shop

The quarry's owner is very knowledgeable and will answer your questions. Higly recommended.

If you ask in the paint shop for the powder they use to make pea green colored paint, the color comes from Chromium oxide. Cr Ox. This powder if you sprinkle it on a piece of smooth leather is about the finest synthetic hone available.

First, see if you can find the powder pigment that they use to make green paint.
Second, the hone you have found would be just great as long as you have the CR OX covered leather hone to finish with.

Hope this helps.

One more thing. In Croatia, your older men, your Grandads etc., must have used something to shave when they were young. ASK AND THEY MAY WELL TELL ABOUT SECRET CROATIAN THINGS THAT ARE BETTER THAN ANYTHING WE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT. Honest, the old guys are a real source of information and what they know is worth finding out about. When you know, tell us ,because we are all still looking for perfection.

Good local hunting.

Originally Posted by English

One more thing. In Croatia, your older men, your Grandads etc., must have used something to shave when they were young. ASK AND THEY MAY WELL TELL ABOUT SECRET CROATIAN THINGS THAT ARE BETTER THAN ANYTHING WE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT. Honest, the old guys are a real source of information and what they know is worth finding out about. When you know, tell us ,because we are all still looking for perfection.

Good local hunting.

GREAT ADVICE!!! English, best thing Ive heard in a long time! Thanks!

If you can mail order stuff from US or europe then I think you might be able to find cheaper stones than the yellow coticule. Depends on the condition of your straight right now though, is it shave ready? Was it shave ready and has dulled?

That chinese 12k stone that retails for like $30 or $40 in the US might be an option. Or perhaps a smaller cheaper "non select" stone from that coticlue mine would fit your needs.

If the straight is really dull or bad condition you will need more than just the finishing/retouching hones we're talking about.

Thanks for the tip about Chromium Oxide... One little question about it... If I sprinkle Cr Ox on piece of smooth leather, do I make passes like when I'm honing or like when I'm stroping?
I will ask my elders about Croatian customs in razor honing and if I find out anything interesting be sure that I'll share it with you guys...
As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that I've heard something about honing things on porcelain plates...

Well, I think that I will need some lower grit stones because the blade is in pretty bad condition... There are many nicks that have to be honed out and the bevel must be shaped again also...