I recently purchased a Japanese Honyama natural water stone(7"x3") from www.LeeValley.com in Canada and a natural Japanese Nagura stone from [url]www.dick.biz in Germany.
I already have a Belgian coticule (5"x2") with a cotigura.
The coticule puts a fine edge on a blade and removes metal quicker with a slurry and polishes better with just water or even better dry. I would say that the cutting range goes from 6000 grit with a slurry to 8000+ grit dry. I have found only one problem with the coticule and that is that I have to use a very light touch to achieve a razor edge and any heavy handedness destroys the edge very quickly. I know this because I am naturally heavy handed and about as delicate as steam roller. This said, the Belgian coticule is a wonderful tool and I have had much success with mine particularly on carbon steel razors.
The Japanese stone works very differently. You get a better cutting action with just water and an excellent polishing action with a slurry from the Nagura stone. I hate quoting grit sizes, but I think the Honyama stone has a range from 6000 to 12000. I say this because this stone will take a blade that has been honed on a 2000 grit wet and dry to a standard of polish that is significantly better than I can get with my coticule. I can go from the hone to a leather strop and achieve a smooth shave time after time. Most importantly for me, the hone is more forgiving of my heavy handedness.
Incidentally, the key to the high grit polishing is the natural slurry from the Nagura rubbing stone.
As to feel, the coticule is like sand compared to the Honyama which is like clay. The coticule feels hard and abrasive whilst the honyama is soft and clawing.
Very different hones with very different characteristics.
I already have a Belgian coticule (5"x2") with a cotigura.
The coticule puts a fine edge on a blade and removes metal quicker with a slurry and polishes better with just water or even better dry. I would say that the cutting range goes from 6000 grit with a slurry to 8000+ grit dry. I have found only one problem with the coticule and that is that I have to use a very light touch to achieve a razor edge and any heavy handedness destroys the edge very quickly. I know this because I am naturally heavy handed and about as delicate as steam roller. This said, the Belgian coticule is a wonderful tool and I have had much success with mine particularly on carbon steel razors.
The Japanese stone works very differently. You get a better cutting action with just water and an excellent polishing action with a slurry from the Nagura stone. I hate quoting grit sizes, but I think the Honyama stone has a range from 6000 to 12000. I say this because this stone will take a blade that has been honed on a 2000 grit wet and dry to a standard of polish that is significantly better than I can get with my coticule. I can go from the hone to a leather strop and achieve a smooth shave time after time. Most importantly for me, the hone is more forgiving of my heavy handedness.
Incidentally, the key to the high grit polishing is the natural slurry from the Nagura rubbing stone.
As to feel, the coticule is like sand compared to the Honyama which is like clay. The coticule feels hard and abrasive whilst the honyama is soft and clawing.
Very different hones with very different characteristics.
