Thread: another coticule, or two

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.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

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.

You are kidding right? I would never have guessed a dished hone would be anything but horrible for a razor.

Originally Posted by prodigy

You are kidding right? I would never have guessed a dished hone would be anything but horrible for a razor.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Utopian

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 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.

Cheers, Steve

Originally Posted by DireStraights

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.

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?