Thread: How to use Coticule.

Originally Posted by northpaw

I also thought you meant starting with bevel-setting. I'd like to try this, but I don't understand yet.
If you don't mind, would you please say it again real plainly for us slow folks?

Like:

For taking blade at (some level) and producing result of (some level),
it's better (or faster?) to use (some method).
etc.

Thanks!

Why aren't you playing Combat Arms? Clearly you are at your computer.

Just a guess..........

Myself I like to keep an open mind on honing. IOW, it ain't carved in stone, if you'll pardon the pun. There are those who like to use slurry and those who do not. With synthetics some use pyramids others progressive honing. It is cool to have these different methods presented so that we can try them for ourselves and see what works for us. Out of the trial and error we develop our own preferences.

Matter of fact, I like to use slurry on an Escher while I know for a fact that Lynn does not , nor does Tim Zowada. I've been known to use slurry on some coticules and dilute as I go while I prefer plain water on certain other prized coticules. So it is, like a lot of this stuff, a matter of personal preference IMO. Whatever gets your razor shaving close and smooth.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Myself I like to keep an open mind on honing. IOW, it ain't carved in stone, if you'll pardon the pun. There are those who like to use slurry and those who do not. With synthetics some use pyramids others progressive honing. It is cool to have these different methods presented so that we can try them for ourselves and see what works for us. Out of the trial and error we develop our own preferences.

Matter of fact, I like to use slurry on an Escher while I know for a fact that Lynn does not , nor does Tim Zowada. I've been known to use slurry on some coticules and dilute as I go while I prefer plain water on certain other prized coticules. So it is, like a lot of this stuff, a matter of personal preference IMO. Whatever gets your razor shaving close and smooth.

Words of wisdom as always, Jimmy.

I wanted to post that link to the old methods since most of us agree we have lost most material and methods from that time period. This little booklet gives us some knowledge to use and to compare with current methods some folks use.
I don't know if anyone noticed but the man who wrote this booklet had 30 years experience when he published this so I'm giving him credit for knowing a great deal since we are using the very old razors that were in everyday use at that time. So the fact it was written in 1893 has no bearing on the information relevance today. He also seems to have a great deal of experience with hones of all types. Some may have names unlike those we use now but it's not difficult to figure out what he is referring to as far as types of hones and the best use of same.
I got a lot of information from his comments on razor temper as well as shape. It made me think much more about the temper and shape related to honing and the kind of edge you can expect.
Bottom line keep an open mind, try things for yourself and draw your own conclusions based on those two statements and the information presented.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Myself I like to keep an open mind on honing. IOW, it ain't carved in stone, if you'll pardon the pun. There are those who like to use slurry and those who do not. With synthetics some use pyramids others progressive honing. It is cool to have these different methods presented so that we can try them for ourselves and see what works for us. Out of the trial and error we develop our own preferences.

Matter of fact, I like to use slurry on an Escher while I know for a fact that Lynn does not , nor does Tim Zowada. I've been known to use slurry on some coticules and dilute as I go while I prefer plain water on certain other prized coticules. So it is, like a lot of this stuff, a matter of personal preference IMO. Whatever gets your razor shaving close and smooth.

But you didn't say anyone or any method is wrong... that can't be right

j/k

Interestingly enough, I don't find the methods of honing on one stone to take more time, and I get really consistent results. Even if it was a longer work and not quite as consistent, I'd still likely do it. Of course, I'm not a vendor...

Originally Posted by Gunner777

I wanted to post that link to the old methods since most of us agree we have lost most material and methods from that time period. This little booklet gives us some knowledge to use and to compare with current methods some folks use.
I don't know if anyone noticed but the man who wrote this booklet had 30 years experience when he published this so I'm giving him credit for knowing a great deal since we are using the very old razors that were in everyday use at that time. So the fact it was written in 1893 has no bearing on the information relevance today. He also seems to have a great deal of experience with hones of all types. Some may have names unlike those we use now but it's not difficult to figure out what he is referring to as far as types of hones and the best use of same.
I got a lot of information from his comments on razor temper as well as shape. It made me think much more about the temper and shape related to honing and the kind of edge you can expect.
Bottom line keep an open mind, try things for yourself and draw your own conclusions based on those two statements and the information presented.

You're preaching to the choir, buddy: The Library

Why not? For instance I collect and smoke pipes. If I pack my tobacco different than someone else does that make either one of us wrong? Nope it just means we do things in a different way.
Besides it sure would be boring if we were all the same:-)

Yep found it over there. I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. The Library

You know the part where he refers to the best Coticule as the one you can leave a mark on with a fingernail but the one you can't is to hard. I haven't tried that yet but I will. After that I'm going to use water only on the one that I leave a mark on and the one I can't leave a mark on and I bet the softer one works well with water only.

I feel the same about what those old timers got up to. I'm currently running a bunch of "experiments" (if you will) with a series of strops based on a lot of information found in those books. Not anywhere others haven't been, but new to me.

I'm on the hunt for a shark skin strop