Thread: Put me out of my misery - Naniwas or Coticule

I'm definitely going to start "cheating" w/ the diamond spray on hard felt--sooner rather than later.

The coticule is amazingly smooth & can be quite sharp if used as a finisher after a synthetic progression. (That simply guarantees no residual slurry dulling; the bevel tip is as thin as possible, given the grit of the stones used to hone it.) Maybe that's because I got one that still cuts on water. Don't know.) For a quick, sharp edge w/ repeatability in mind, I do have to say synthetics are faster than diluting slurry. (Now that my diamond films have gone on to their eternal reward, a Norton is on my Buy list).

My barber recently got a box of str8s that I get to hone & test shave (4 of which should be great once honed) & I just want to get them sharp quick. 1 is a Red Imp, 1 is a W&B full hollow smiler. The Dilucot method is really fun though, & very rewarding when I get a razor shave-ready using it. Personally, I like both methods for different situations.

Here's my advice to dnjrboy and anyone else starting out honing wondering what type of hone setup to get: don't worry too much about it.

Send two razors to Lynn and have him finish one on a coticule and the other on a Naniwa. See if you can tell the difference; my guess is not. Skill is everything; honing equipment (as long as you choose one of the tried-and-true setups) is secondary.

I'm convinced that for all the advantages and disadvantages we like to talk about, the vast majority of honers ultimately settle on a given setup as their favorite for largely aesthetic reasons. (It may be different for Lynn and other honemeisters who hone tons of razors on a daily basis; I'm talking about the majority who simply want good edges on their own razors.)

For some, the idea of honing on natural rocks is irresistible, romantic, etc. For others, the idea of precision-made instruments doing a precise job is irresistible. It's a question of temperament and personality. Both groups manage, after a period of trial and error, to master the technical skills to get great edges.

Originally Posted by dylandog

Here's my advice to dnjrboy and anyone else starting out honing wondering what type of hone setup to get: don't worry too much about it.

Send two razors to Lynn and have him finish one on a coticule and the other on a Naniwa. See if you can tell the difference; my guess is not. Skill is everything; honing equipment (as long as you choose one of the tried-and-true setups) is secondary.

I'm convinced that for all the advantages and disadvantages we like to talk about, the vast majority of honers ultimately settle on a given setup as their favorite for largely aesthetic reasons. (It may be different for Lynn and other honemeisters who hone tons of razors on a daily basis; I'm talking about the majority who simply want good edges on their own razors.)

For some, the idea of honing on natural rocks is irresistible, romantic, etc. For others, the idea of precision-made instruments doing a precise job is irresistible. It's a question of temperament and personality. Both groups manage, after a period of trial and error, to master the technical skills to get great edges.

Spot on, imho.