Thread: Learning on coticule?

Originally Posted by Wxman2000

I also took the one I shaved with this morning that worked great and gave it 150 laps water only on my Zulu grey. Will see if that improves the shave or if I ruined that one! Haven't had luck with the Zulu up to this point.

How was the shave with this one?

Originally Posted by Double0757

How was the shave with this one?

Didn't notice any difference from the coticule edge one. Not sure why, but it did a lot of laps on just water, I could feel resistance, but it didn't seem to affect how it shaved or smoothness either.

Originally Posted by Wxman2000

Didn't notice any difference from the coticule edge one. Not sure why, but it did a lot of laps on just water, I could feel resistance, but it didn't seem to affect how it shaved or smoothness either.

I have been using this three different coti's and the Zulu has improve the edge on all of them. You could have a very high grit coti or your Zulu could be glazed (rubbing the slury Zulu to the stone could cause this). The coti edge feels different to the Zulu. So, at the very least, it should feel different if it doesn't get sharper.

Try dry sanding the glazed side slightly with a 1500 wet/dry sand paper, rinse and try. Remember, I get good results, anywhere from 100-160 laps on an 8"X3". If your stone is smaller, it will be more laps, provided the consistence between my stone and yours are equal.

Now that I have two lapped side, one dressed to 400 (Atoma) and the other 1500 wet/dry sand paper, the Zulu has become more consistent with the results. I use the 400 side coming off the 8k or the coti. Raise a very very light slury (just cloudy water, about one figure eight with the Atoma) and do about 40-60 on that, then I rinse and re-dress the stone with the 1200 Atoma ( for a smoother surface), do about another 40-60 on that. Then turn the Zulu to the smoother side (1500 wet/dry sanded side) and do another 60-80 laps for a very keen edge.

I'm not saying that this is the only way to get a good edge out of the Zulu. I've gotten good edges coming of the 16k Shapton glass and go on the smooth side dressed with a turi and a very slight slury of turi (light gray) on it for 80-100 laps (most consistent). Off the 8k Shapton glass or the coti, I'm sure there could be other variations that would result in good edges also. Experiment with it and find something that works for you, but do experiment.

Double O

A yellow coticule is the standard over the last two centuries but technique is king