Thread: Tiny Coticule

On the prowl I picked up a small natural coticule, around 2x3 or so. It's the end of a basic rectangular hone that I am guessing someone dropped and they simply cut it up into a few small pieces. It is lapped quite well and just as flat/smooth as my other hones. However, it's size presents me with the problem of figuring out how to use it with my straight razors. It would be better if I could get a 2x6 or 2x8 to use but I was wondering if anyone has any tips or experience on using these little stones - as I do not have eighty to hundred twenty dollars to drop on a hone at the moment.

Make a good slurry stone i guess

Originally Posted by gary haywood

Make a good slurry stone i guess

That was my thought too.

Some old barber hones were that small. It's still an adequate size for a hone. While I wouldn't want to use a coticule that size for Bart's one coticule honing regimen, I think it would be just fine for maintenance. I don't think it needs to be cut up to be sacrifice for rubbing stones. LX Emergency did a honing video using a coticule bout, demonstrating that size is not critical for a coticule's use.

try mini-stroke motions, like tiny vibration in pond.

Try using an extreme X stroke.

I've attached a picture of the coticule, it's wider but shorter then imperial's. I've been holding it in my palm to use it, which is probably bad since I'm probably applying pressure. The next time I can sit down to try and hone my razors again I'll use it flat on the table with both hands on the blade to keep it flat without pushing on it.

It really is quite a nice little stone though. It came with a certificate and instructions in german, pretty handy.

Also, that's the rubbing stone for my chinese 12k next to it.

It should work using an x stroke. It's small, but usable. It may be a "Bout" It's actually larger than some Barber hones I've seen.

That defanatly looks usable

Looks like a perfect palm stone I've been using my stone in hand lately and really like it that way.