Thread: Where do I go from here?

OK As we all know different razors hone differently, shave differently and feel slightly different on the skin, hence the 'need' for different hones and techniques and, of course there is the difference between sheffield steel and solingen.
I use the same hones for each razor and I feel that I may need to progress to something different.
Being on a tight budjet, I have gone for fairly generic hones.
A 'Fujitori' 1k/3k combo, a no name 8k and a PHIG.
I am presently considering a coticle (as so many of the experienced honers here use them) or a swaty (which I have also heard good things about).
From what I can gather either one would be a good choice, but I can afford only one of them ATM.
I am sure that I will get many and varied opinions on this and I welcome them.
Which one would be the more appropriate and where would it fit in the progression?
Also what differences should I expect to notice when using them?
I hope I have made sense.
Geoff

Before I go very far, do you get satisfactory shaves off the 8K? This is quite an important question.

You actually have all the bases covered with your current set-up. The hard part about a coti is that it's a natural and some are better than others. Same for the PHIG. If I were to recommend anything to your combination it would be a Shapton 16K or Naniwa SS 12K. As far as which one is more fine, IMO they are about the same "grit". I'm fond of the Shapton as it is a bit faster to hone with, but you can't go wrong with either one. There would be no need for a swaty if you were to obtain either of these stones & either of them are "finer" than a swaty.

Yes Shooter74743 I get shaves off the 8k that are comparable to the shave ready razor I got off johnmrson - some blades are actually better.
I got a shave ready razor here to have a baseline to aim for with my honing.
I originally thought I was doing something wrong 'cause I seemed to be able to set the bevel after around 15 - 20 min on the 1k but after watching Glenns videos time and time again I realised all was OK.
So many guys talk about spending 1 - 2 hrs setting the bevel!
The coti seems to have a yellow side and a dark side in the photo I have and I'm assuming that the dark side is a BBW.
The only reason I posted the question is that many guys seem to use a coti for finishing and this one is going for under $20 ATM.
I thought it may take my blades to the next level, so to speak.
This honing thing really is a 'dark art', it seems.
Thanks for your input.
Geoff

The guys who are taking 1-2 hours bevel setting are doing something wrong, somewhere. If the coti is around 6" or 15cm, go for it as the price is most definitely right. If the coti is a natural combination stone, then the dark side will be the bbw. If it's glued, it could be slate. Either way it goes, it's a good price if the coti side has any life to it left. As far as taking your blades to the next level, I don't know and neither will you until you get the stone. It's a natural, so you don't really know what you are gonna get. I have heard coti's range from around 8K all the way to the 15K range, but I have never had one to exceed the 8-10K range personally.

Dark art...I'm not so sure if it's that or a lost art that we are trying to bring back. Either way, chasing an edge is quite a challenge.

+1 with what Shooter already posted...

Snap up the coti for a good price, and when you get the funds set aside add a high grit synthetic finisher, that will round out your honing arsenal quite well...

And BTW there are some "razors" that can take that long to set a bevel but as Shooter already pointed out there is a problem in there someplace either the razor or the hands LOL Wait because sooner or later you will find one that will test your sanity

"This is in the Advanced Honing section, but I will say this anyway, the differences that we are talking about in this thread are minute, and we are discussing them here because they have no bearing on getting a good shave" we are just chasing edges

Originally Posted by gssixgun

...sooner or later you will find one that will test your sanity

My first blade with a ruined or bad heat treat/temper did test my sanity...I lost. I actually sent it to Sham to see what I was doing wrong. Fortunately I had just bought the DePew razor to use as a pattern for making a razor. What was I doing wrong? Nothing, but I though I was. This is why I sent out for second opinion. I knew I had reached my limits & was just wasting steel.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

+1 with what Shooter already posted...

Snap up the coti for a good price, and when you get the funds set aside add a high grit synthetic finisher, that will round out your honing arsenal quite well...

And BTW there are some "razors" that can take that long to set a bevel but as Shooter already pointed out there is a problem in there someplace either the razor or the hands LOL Wait because sooner or later you will find one that will test your sanity

"This is in the Advanced Honing section, but I will say this anyway, the differences that we are talking about in this thread are minute, and we are discussing them here because they have no bearing on getting a good shave" we are just chasing edges

I have already had one that tested my patience, however, it was a 'titanium' blade so I guess that doesn't count....hehehe.
I already have a back-up plan in place for real blades that I can't get right - send them to Oz and let him have a go. :-)
I have a smiling wedge Wade & Butcher in the post and I'm sure it will challenge me.
Many thanks to you, Glen, for your great videos 'cause that's where I learned to hone.
Has anyone tried a Sigma power ceramic 13k?

Originally Posted by shooter74743

...Dark art...I'm not so sure if it's that or a lost art that we are trying to bring back. Either way, chasing an edge is quite a challenge...

That's a very inspiring comment... :-)

Originally Posted by shooter74743

My first blade with a ruined or bad heat treat/temper did test my sanity...I lost. I actually sent it to Sham to see what I was doing wrong. Fortunately I had just bought the DePew razor to use as a pattern for making a razor. What was I doing wrong? Nothing, but I though I was. This is why I sent out for second opinion. I knew I had reached my limits & was just wasting steel.

That's funny, the same thing happend to me! LOL.

$20 for a coti is a no brainer but unless the seller explains its characteristics to you & they suit your goal you may not get exactly what you want.
I'm not sure what the next level is you refer to but cotis can certainly open up some more potential to your arsenal even if it's not what you expected.
The Dark Art is a lotta fun eh ?