Thread: Coti vs Escher

First learn to hone on synthetics and produce repeatable shaving edges. Then move to naturals. If you mix the two you introduce a lot of variables and will encounter mush frustration trying to isolate a problem.

Most new honer problems are caused by a lack of a full or proper bevel set so start there. As said, with what you have now, you should be getting great shaves, adding more stones, especially Natural Stones to the mix will only create more unknowns. Look to your bevel set and technique, you cannot polish an edge, that does not exist. If you cannot shave off your edges, you have a problem.

Photos of your stones and razors will help in advising you.

Make sure your Chrome Oxide is razor quality.

Post your results and I will post mine. Interested to see if we share the same findings. I bought a old Bismarck and I have a Genco I am going to try the Jnat and Escher on. My Mastro Livi's and Austs don't ever seem to need anything. After fooling around I may try the new stones on one of my Austs just to see the difference they make in the smoothness.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

First learn to hone on synthetics and produce repeatable shaving edges. Then move to naturals. If you mix the two you introduce a lot of variables and will encounter mush frustration trying to isolate a problem.

Most new honer problems are caused by a lack of a full or proper bevel set so start there. As said, with what you have now, you should be getting great shaves, adding more stones, especially Natural Stones to the mix will only create more unknowns. Look to your bevel set and technique, you cannot polish an edge, that does not exist. If you cannot shave off your edges, you have a problem.

Photos of your stones and razors will help in advising you.

Make sure your Chrome Oxide is razor quality.

Totally agree, for a newb or unexperienced.
But I've been at it for 30 years now[emoji57]

Originally Posted by jkatzman

Post your results and I will post mine. Interested to see if we share the same findings. I bought a old Bismarck and I have a Genco I am going to try the Jnat and Escher on. My Mastro Livi's and Austs don't ever seem to need anything. After fooling around I may try the new stones on one of my Austs just to see the difference they make in the smoothness.

Always...[emoji6]

Originally Posted by outback

I feel ya brother...
Have been very pleased with a full progression of Naniwas for a year, 220,400,800,1000chosera,1000 specialty stone,5000ss,8000ss12000ss. Then I found a Thurigan, what a great improvement, now I'm about to challenge it to a battle with a Jnat. [emoji38]

Have fun with it! Personally I get outstanding edges from both types of stone, but usually prefer using a JNat since I don't have to go through as many stones (JNats only get a 2k or 3k edge to start from when I hone - even 1k to JNat can be done pretty easily). I've tried about 15 different JNats ranging from crazy hard to medium soft (probably a range of 3.5 to 5++ or whatever they rate them as) now and 4 Thuris (Y/G, D/B, L/G, and B/G. All have given me very very nice edges, haven't used a pasted strop for a shaving edge in I don't know how long. Many years. Anyways, have fun!

Not you… Katzman…