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So I've owned and sold two coticules. I've never been that impressed by the edges, but I'm no expert honemeister so that could be the main issue. I'm always on the lookout for deals on the bay, and picked this auction a few minutes ago. :)
Ebay item number: 201293531109
Nice slurry stone, and maybe the larger piece will be a good one. Must have been good for someone as much as it is dished. I wouldn't lap it. Use it as is and see what it does for you. Might be just fine. :gl:
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You are kidding right? I would never have guessed a dished hone would be anything but horrible for a razor.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
Well if you lap it you'll be mighty close to the blue. If it was me I'd give it a shot with a razor that wasn't that 'important' to me just to check it out. FWIW, the old barbers I hung out with in the 1980s sold coticules to me. One in particular demonstrated honing to me and we talked about razors/honing a fair amount. Not one of those 3 barbers, who had been in the trade between 30 and 50 years each, ever mentioned lapping a hone to flat. Not once.Quote:
Originally Posted by prodigy
On ebay I once bought a 5x2 1/2 coticule from the son of a barber along with an FWE razor. That razor had been honed on that coticule by that guy 20 years before (he died) and was still scary sharp. The coticule was dished big time. I did flatten it, and almost wish I hadn't. It had plenty of yellow though, so I wasn't even close to the blue. Anyway, as far gone as your coticule is, I'd try it as is first. IMHO.
Ok i will for sure. I couldn't distinguish if there was sarcasm in there, as it is a dished hone. For the price I would be happy even if it needs to be lapped. He says the center of the dish has 1/16 of yellow, and the ends are 1/8. Plenty of life left. The smaller one might even be usable for circles. Thanks for the advice, I'm hoping if I go through enough of these coticules I'll find one I can figure out!
One of my coticules is extremely dished--probably a quarter inch between high and low. I have not had the heart to lap it and and waste any of that coticule goodness (and I'm the guy that saves lapping slurry!) so I have been using it to generate slurry on other coticules for at least the past 6 years.
I figure in another 40 or 50 years it will be flat!
I actually like dished stones for wedge blades because there is no spine taping necessary. I have used a stone that was dished on purpose for that reason. It left stellar edges on any blade not just wedges. It just changed the angle similar to using "X" layers of tape.
I save lapping slurry too, JNat thpugh. I put it on small piece of lint-free shop cloth and use it to clean razors, polish everything from steel to fountain pens to jewelry. It works really well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
Cheers, Steve
Quote:
Originally Posted by DireStraights
That is Alx's stone I believe. I gave it a try too, and I measured the radius of the dish at 540mm. He cut it very uniform and I calculated the increase in angle and it was about like a layer of tape.
Cheers, Steve
I'm excited because these stones might be quite old. The guy says he bought them 30 years ago and never used them. I guess the dishing is ok, but would it not have to be a uniform dish. I can't say until I inspect it upon arrival. How do you create slurry on the dished hone? Make slurry with a dmt on the non dished one and transfer?
i had one dished about a 1/4 , the only way i brought myself to lapping it (on a belt sander) was because i was about to order a BBW only stone and the coticule combo i grabbed cheaper then i could the BBW alone .. still hated doing it !!Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
I lapped 1/16" out of this one and I almost cried, lol. It's an amazing stone.
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Still honing like that, I will never lap it.Attachment 194371Attachment 194372Attachment 194373Attachment 194374Attachment 194375
So long as you're not using enough pressure to convex the bevel I've never had a problem honing on a slightly dished Pike Coticule I have. It's a 7" no. 1 fine grade with both stamps that I've never had the heart to lap. I watched a video by sham where he honed on a dish stone with a no pressure heel forward stroke. Figured if he could do it so could I. I've never had 1 convex bevel come off my stone but I'm very careful around the dish. I actually prefer honing with the dish stone when it comes to a big smiling blade is it actually helps with the rolling-x stroke.
If you lapp it you wont have coti anymore .My cotis 2 from 4, small are dished just like this and i hone also in this condition ,and the 3 rd i lapp and now i have 2 3 mm Latheuses like layer of coti . I only use the BBW wich is amazing by the way .This stone is my biggest coti 12 .5 x 5 sm 5 x2 inch.:rofl2:Quote:
Still honing like that, I will never lap it.
They arrived today, and I decided to use my very first straight razor as a test subject. It's previous edge was shave ready per gokumyo 20k. I started by flattening the smaller stone. It had some gunk on it and I wanted it to be clean and fresh. I used the smaller one to make a medium slurry, honed while progressively diluting with water. This stone is quite nice as far as fitting in my hand. I don't normally like holding the hone, but this just felt right. The edge is definitely not dull, cuts arm hair with zero tugging, before stropping. Post stropping she's slicing hair with ease, can't really tell a difference really on arm hair between the coti and 20k edges. I'm sure my face will feel the difference! I can already tell this stone puts my previous 2 to shame! Thanks for all the advice, the dish seemed like it was going to have to be flattened, boy was I wrong!
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Could not wait until morning to shave, BBS 3 pass shave, skin is so smooth! It's not quite as sharp as I'm used to. I would say it tugs, but it likes short strokes on the first pass, 3-4 day growth. No weepers, nicks, or cuts so I can't complain!
Glad to hear you got a satisfactory shave. If you get to know the stone you may see improvement as time goes on. I've gotten razors very sharp/keen with certain coticules, not as much with others.Quote:
Originally Posted by prodigy
It is my opinion that barbers liked them so much because the edges were milder and less prone to nicking. Sort of like shaving DE with a Derby as opposed to a Feather. Shaving other people all day, a forgiving edge is probably a good thing. ...... IMHO ........ YMMV ..... :)
You are rigth Rusen if I lap it, I won't have any more Coti. Coticules are great stones, and since we don't need to use a lot of pressure I figure this piece of stone is going to last a long time. I do have another 3 Coticules, but there's something about this little piece of rock.
The most damaged and the broken are aways the best stones ,most used i think .There is something special about every coti
Prodigy, I am happy to see that you got excellent results from your coticule. It proves that you don't need a 20 000 (the grit ratings keep rising) to get a great edge. For several years all I used was a synthetic stone progression. I recently discovered the coticule and wish I had discovered it earlier. I sold all my stones, except my chosera 1k in case I need to do heavy restoration work. Less is more ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by prodigy
Great stuff here. I love that you guys are showing how a dished stone can be just the thing for wedges and smilers. I'd like to find one like this some day.
