Thread: Coti vs Escher

A Coticule is a honing 'system' to me, while an Escher is a finisher. Seems apples to oranges. I have never been a big Coti fan, unless on really old blades. I think you must be a big honing enthusiast to master the coticule. Escher is a wonderful finisher, for old blades and most modern. Modern steels seem to have a need for synthetics right up to the Escher to gain any of the Escher smoothness. I also think that any excessive pasted stropping following finishing on the Escher and before the fabric/leather will negate some of the benefits of an Escher edge. This is, of course, from my personal experience. YMMV

Originally Posted by sharptonn

A Coticule is a honing 'system' to me, while an Escher is a finisher. Seems apples to oranges. I have never been a big Coti fan, unless on really old blades. I think you must be a big honing enthusiast to master the coticule. Escher is a wonderful finisher, for old blades and most modern. Modern steels seem to have a need for synthetics right up to the Escher to gain any of the Escher smoothness. I also think that any excessive pasted stropping following finishing on the Escher and before the fabric/leather will negate some of the benefits of an Escher edge. This is, of course, from my personal experience. YMMV

All of my blades are old. Starting in about 1770 till about 1925. More than half are old Sheffield wedge. I only ever learned on a coti and want to see what a thuri can do on top of that if anything. I already know an escher is at least as good as my coti, but I was missing some info at that time. So if a coti is a system and an escher/thuri is afinisher then logic has it one should follow the other with improved results.

Originally Posted by rideon66

All of my blades are old. Starting in about 1770 till about 1925. More than half are old Sheffield wedge. I only ever learned on a coti and want to see what a thuri can do on top of that if anything. I already know an escher is at least as good as my coti, but I was missing some info at that time. So if a coti is a system and an escher/thuri is afinisher then logic has it one should follow the other with improved results.

I am certainly not implying that a Coti is not a finisher. Using many techniques, some can begin, and then arrive at a super-fine edge on them. Certainly this is not the Escher's forte, as it is for finishing/refreshing only
For my limited ability on the coticule, Escher does improve the edge.
Again, YMMV!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I am certainly not implying that a Coti is not a finisher. Using many techniques, some can begin, and then arrive at a super-fine edge on them. Certainly this is not the Escher's forte, as it is for finishing/refreshing only
For my limited ability on the coticule, Escher does improve the edge.
Again, YMMV!

So would you refresh a razor on a Nani 12k or an Escher or both?

Originally Posted by Phrank

So would you refresh a razor on a Nani 12k or an Escher or both?

I suppose I would answer with either, OR both, depending upon the razor. Old Sheffield, certainly Escher.
A hard-steel Genco? 12k Nani! A more modern Henckels carbon, 12k to Escher.
Refreshed as they were finished, so to speak. Give them what they like. JMO