Thread: Coticule size for kamisori?

Hello I have ordered a 50mm Kamisori and now I wonder what size coticule I would need for it.
The smallest usable size for that type of razor.

I see there are 115x60mm and 130x70mm and also some larger ones like 150x50 and 200x60 but those are starting to cost a lot of money.
I think I want one at least as wide as the kamisori itself, but will a 60x115 just be too small??

I'd like to get the smallest usable one so I can travel easily with it.

I have two 1.5" x 5" (40x125mm) Coticules. They work fine for the 3" straight razors. I think 60x115mm would be a good size for a Kamisori, especially if you want it for travel.

130x70 is a great size for a coticule. Big enough to bench hone, small enough to hand hone, and won't break the bank. It's one of my favorite all around sizes.

There is a special way to hone these kamisoris. You don't do it like a regular straight supposedly (look on youtube). That why I asked.

You could hone a kamisori on a 2x5 cm if you'd want to. Granted though, it would be a bit of a challenge. The smallest size for honing anything relatively comfortably would be in the 4x12.5 cm realm and up, in my experience. And no, a 6x11.5 cm will not be too small. It would be very comfortable, I would say.

I hone kamisori pretty much like any other razor (except I tend to hone more on one side than the other - I go against tradition and do a bit more on the stamp side, as there is less steel to remove). However, if you are looking to hone using larger circles rather than back-and-forth strokes, I would advise you to look for a nice bout, square or rectangle-ish (it is what I would advise in general - they tend to be quite a bit cheaper). I would say contact ardennes-coticule directly, they are very accommodating.

Originally Posted by jigane

There is a special way to hone these kamisoris. You don't do it like a regular straight supposedly (look on youtube). That why I asked.

Umm, why are you not using Japanese natural hones on Japanese Razor?

Originally Posted by FAL

Umm, why are you not using Japanese natural hones on Japanese Razor?

They are too expensive. I know nothing about them, and finally I have feeling I really need to read up on those to find a good one. And that of course takes a lot of time. It just too much info to plow through for me to make a good decision.

I should tell you about my Old La-Veinette stone, it is 1-5/8 " X 7" and is the perfect travel stone, it is fast and smooth finish on water, known as the easiest stone for a new honer to have success with in the coticules, they were correct.

Best of luck to you and Happy New year.

IMAO the size does not matter. i honed my kamisoris on a tiny coticule (about my palm size, may be a little tinier ) you should just know the way to hone your kami.

i forgot to remind, in my case you need to have patience. it take a little longer time.