Thread: Been on the hone 4 hours, still wont shave.

Razor is the inexpensive Dovo 5/8 (bought with the understanding I might sacrifice it learning before I get a $ one).


I've been getting a good arm-shaving bevel off a shapton 1k, followed by 5,8,12k Naniwa Superstones, then diamond/felt, and finally leather. Pretty good shaves, fairly consistent.


So I when the edge started to tug, and it came time for a hone I thought I'd try stepping up to a coticule. I got a coticule, 40x200 #80163 from The Superior Shave not sure what layer. Watched all the vids. Figured I simply be refreshing the edge so did a few weight of blade strokes water only. No luck. Tried a few more times, seemed like the edge was getting duller!

Figured at this point I'd done something wrong.

Tried starting with thick paste on the coti rubbed out from the bout, then slowly thinning to water ala the videos. Managed to get it shaving hair on arm skin but nothing better. Hours later still the same.

Took it back to the Naniwa 8K, 40/40 circles followed by 10 X strokes. Then to the Naniwa 12k 10 X strokes. Edge beatuiful, poppin hairs half inch away from arm skin.

Stropped and shaved. Good shave. All good. Stropped again, checked edge. good. popping hairs.

But then I wanted to see if my coticule work is indeed messing it up, so I took it back to the wet coticule, no slurry, 10 of the finest, lightest, weight of blade strokes, and lo and behold, the edge seemed degraded, no popping hairs anymore.

Any ideas?

Did you lap the Coticule? If not, maybe it needs it? Coticules can have a steep learning curve. Mine is probably in the 8k-10k range, it really helps some razors and not so much on others.

Did you shave with it. I like to do the tests too, however there are times that the tests fail but the shave is great. I can't explain the science behind it, seems more like magic, however it happens. I too am learning the coti. It is a relationship that is slowly building. I'm thinking she is a little shy and not quite ready to tell me all her secrets. We are working on it.

I agree with Shaun, do a shave test. You may find that the edge the coti puts on may be more comfortable. I use a Coticule with slurry 50 strokes and then 50 more on clear water, then 10 strokes on .5 Chromium Oxide on felt, I'm pretty happy with the shaves I'm getting. Compared to the finishing with Guangxi 12k only

+1 for trying to shave with it. I get hair popping with the naniwas but the coti wont pass hanging hair yet shaves great. Try tpt or shave you might be surprised. Also try the unicot method? Where you tape at the end might get you better results

Also in my experience a straight needs a good stropping on both material and leather off the coticule before shaving with it. Give that a try and then shave with it.

Put it down,go to bed.let it rest.come back to it another day

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Put it down,go to bed.let it rest.come back to it another day

+1


rs,
Tack

This ones easy. It's a condition I call hone speed. Stop using the Coti. Each stone has a speed setting. I can best describe it with an analogy. You are learning how to drive. You get into a Honda civic and are doing pretty well. Then, based on your success you try out a 450 hp rear engine Ferrari with slick tires. That's when the trouble starts.

It's no secret that beginners are told to only use the slowest hones available. Check the Barbers manuals.

"So I when the edge started to tug, and it came time for a hone I thought I'd try stepping up to a coticule." From a Shapton.

Hi Is,

You're getting good edges on the Shaptons. That's not a small thing - genuine bravo.

You've been at it long enough to have seen the many threads about naturals v synthetics, so you knew the job was dangerous (and costly & frustrating) when you took it. I empathize. 'Dropped wads in naturals & gave them their due. 'Get shaveable edges from all, but not satisfaction from all. The coti remains one where I've had superb edges - but not often & almost never easily. As the honorable Utopian once put it - they seem to take a higher level of skill. That skill remains in my future, and has long since over-run my patience. 'Had 5, still have 3, and still use them quite regularly - but not for finishing.

Maybe more important than helping you crack the nut of coti technique, I'd support you to connect w/ other users of whatever kind of stone you contemplate - so you don't have to be so broke from buying and trying each of them (you can guess how I might know). You face/beard/skin isn't going to like the feel of them equally. They aren't equally easy to learn. One or more or them will stand out by fitting your skill/technique, and your face will confirm that's the kind of rock you'll like. This isn't to discourage you from learning the coti, but maybe encourage a less costly approach to learning/enjoying the naturals.

Best of luck w/ the coti. You're in a boat w/ an awful lot of guys.