Thread: Coti breaking glass HELP

Ive kept my comments to myself, mainly because i ha ent been able to get much of anywhere with a coti. Glad your finding some progress. I shipped mine off to be tested by someone who uses coties just to eliminate the issue of the stone. He said the stone did have bad spots on it so maybe when i get it back i can continue to learn this %$!#@ stone.
Good luck!

I recommend trying out ballistol with your coticule. I used it yesterday and I would say there was definitely an improvement for me.

I have but one Coticule is small about 1.5 x 6 inch cream colored with wood like faint dark (manganese?) streaks in it. I hear a lot of people fuss about these stones but I feel maybe I got lucky with mine because I get nice comfy shaves using it not super keen like the synths I am used to but keen enough and very forgiving on the face.

My routine with this stone starts with slurry not to thick but not runny. After a bevel set and a quick trip on the 3k I start Coticule honing with some firm pressure after a dozen passes I already see slurry darkening, I continue adding finger drops of water to keep the slurry from dying out. I keep testing the edge with my thumb and there will be a point where you just know its very bitey and sharper from starting point. Then I rinse the hone do the slurry over again an make it just a bit wetter hone some more and start letting off on the pressure in increments along the way while also adding a little water. I will test again on thumb maybe on arm hair and just continue if its not there yet. I like to hone in hand no stands for me because I can guage pressure and stone to steel contact much better I think this is important.

There will be a point when the slurry is thinned out and i just wash off the stone re surface with the rubber and wash it off again then its just water again just going lighter and lighter on the pressure. There will be a point when you don't think its getting any sharper. sometimes I go to running water and go really feather light finishing strokes or I have also used glycerine as well with good result. The main thing is as sharpening progresses your pressure lightens up and you can take this to any extreme you want but at least for my stone it seems to deliver with this routine.

I wish I had more experience with different Coticules to understand the typical problems folks are running into but I only have one. So this one man with one stones opinion, I hope it helps.

Good to hear, mate!

Keep at it and keep us updated.

I was inspired to touch up my lucky Wostenholm on my La Veinette this morning and decided to use the HHT which scored a 2 once I'd finished on soap and water. Gave a pretty smooth shave this evening

On bouts VS rectangular hones: I have had three bouts, all more or less rectangular. It pays to ask.

Best regards,

Pieter

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

I hear good things about the SG20k, but am very fond of the Coticule smoothness,
how does the SG20k compare to the smoothness of a Coticule?

If it is similar I will buy a SG20k for sure, consistently a much easier stone to use I imagine

I have used a SG20k edge on one razor, honed by a competent honer. For what it's worth, I didn't notice too much of a difference between that and a decent/good coticule edge, perhaps slightly less forgiving.

However, edge retention was quite abysmal, in my opinion, because I wasn't even ten shaves in when a touch up was required (i.e. loads of tiny nicks all over).

As it is a high grit finisher, it probably matters a whole lot more what preceeded it. Similar to pure finishing (on water only) on a coticule.

With the prices they demand, I have problems understanding why they are as popular as they are, but each to his own (and their money).

Best regards,

Pieter

Well they are popular for a simple reason they don't generate threads like this one. I never heard anyone post " help SG-20 break glass" just consistently decent edges without drama. Some folks just want this and as far as price, I have seen named veins of cotis comnand far more, eschers 2 times more and up. It really depends what your in to.