Thread: Coticule

Originally Posted by myersn024

A coticule was the first natural stone that I purchased after getting my Nortons, and I've been less than impressed with my results with that stone. I purchased another coticule a while later, and while I get better edges from it, I still don't consider either of them finishing stones. IMO, unless you just want a coticule, I'd get something else. My bar-none favorite finisher is my translucent Arkie and it cost less then either of the coticules did and produces a better edge. As always, YMMV.

You know, there's a lot of bad Coti's out there. It's like any other natural. Sometimes it takes a while to find one that suits you, really. Just like Jnats or Charnley. I've always leaned towards selected grade Coticules myself, no inclusions, etc...Not that it matters much, From what I understand, The standard grade stones are just as good. I wouldn't give up so easily on them, or other naturals.
If the Translucent Arkansas is your favorite finisher, I have many Arkies, I'd love to show you some other edges....

I am going to make a point and most Coti fan boys won't like it but the truth is the truth

Before everyone started buying the Standard Grade Cotis, I never read about so much trouble with Coticules, of course we also used them as just Finishers back then too... They also were not pushed on newbs like they are now, most people that used them were experiened honers...

So perhaps it is a combination of all those things that has caused the huge amount of YMMV with Coticules because it is a more recent problem (in the life of SRP)..

PLEASE,,, Do Not, take my word for this, go back into the achives and read for yourselves

Just my observations over the last 5 years on the forum and taking the time to read the old stuff...YMMV

Why everything that's rare and expensive has to be an exceptional finisher? Buy a C12k and you'll be fine. Legendary stones are just legends. I like my coticule because it was sought after, 2000 years ago by Romans, my Charnleys because it's rare, my Thuringians because they're also rare, same goes for my LIs, a few salmen stones I have, the Japanese because everything that comes from Japan will definitely be exceptional, the cuttlers green and the lapped horn of a unicorn. Buy a finisher regardless its price, strop your razor after honing, and no matter the name of the last hone you used, you'll have a nice edge. I agree about the whole price-size thing, and I hate it.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am going to make a point and most Coti fan boys won't like it but the truth is the truth

Before everyone started buying the Standard Grade Cotis, I never read about so much trouble with Coticules, of course we also used them as just Finishers back then too... They also were not pushed on newbs like they are now, most people that used them were experiened honers...

So perhaps it is a combination of all those things that has caused the huge amount of YMMV with Coticules because it is a more recent problem (in the life of SRP)..

PLEASE,,, Do Not, take my word for this, go back into the achives and read for yourselves

Just my observations over the last 5 years on the forum and taking the time to read the old stuff...YMMV

It reminds me of another post that you commented on Glen, how back in the day, we all started shaving peach fuz with the aid of pops standing over you giving you all the coaching you needed to get started.

If the fact of the matter is that more men were using their coti’s as finishers back in the day, and to top that off… Already had allot of experience using other means to hone than yeah; the influx of gents who are new and quite frankly haven’t had enough experience or time to truly know what a good edge is to start with are all “now” being told to use them - will start to give the Coti a “bad” name.

And that’s great! Everything in life is cyclical, and perhaps Coti’s will lose their meteoric rise to fame for something else. This in time will again allow those who know how to hone to raise the mystique and eventually, someone will start shilling them to those who are uninitiated. Like me : ).

For all intents and purpose I began life with a straight and a Coti. I have no regrets whatsoever! I struggled with that sucker and gents on the forums must have been sick of hearing of my struggles with it lol. BUT, it made me a better honer (I think). It allowed me to gain a little (BIG noob here) insight as to what a good edge is, when to use pressure and when not too etc. Moreover, when I got my synthetics (thanks Speedster), I feel I could appreciate them all the more.

I’ll say this – in today’s world, you have to be both stubborn and committed to get into straights. There are just so many “easier” options. With that mindset, many straight users I feel could learn to use a Coti effectively. But, and it’s a big but, when learning to use a straight, there is so much going on that to master a Coti might be best left till after learning to kind of master the shave first. Getting bad edges off of any natural stone puts a massive damper on learning to use a straight – Well that’s my 2 cents.

I had pretty high expectations when I got my first coticule, a standard grade, and those were dashed pretty quickly. At that time I was already getting some good shaving edges off 8k but had terrible results with the coti. Later after some practice with the stone, I can make a pretty good shaving edge just off the standard coticule. I have a Boker which I bought new, and have honed to shave ready only on this stone, and have since touched up using just the standard grade and water.

In retrospect my trouble had much more to do with the small size of the hone than anything else. I had learned on larger,8x3 Norton benchstones and it was a major adjustment to switch to the 150x40 coticule. Once I gained more hand control I was able to do just fine. I have since used two selected coticules that I purchased, and used another select that I borrowed. I also have a few other hones now, in a few other sizes.

So it's based on that experience that I made my recommendations to the OP in my above post. And I think they are pretty sound recommedations: I favor a wider stone, and larger than 4" in length. Ideal stone would be 8-10x2.5-3 And I would say that for any stone, not just cotis.

Some people like a narrow hone for warped blades and some like stones without spots. Some like rectangles and some don't. People buy all different sizes for all different reasons, not least of which is price. But that all boils down to preference in the end. I don't see too much reason for me to promote one stone over the other for any of the above reasons. But preference for the size of a stone can be quantified and talked about objectively. Opinions based on experience can be given, and may have little to do with what one actually favors.

Sorry for the rant.
Michael

I tend to use two coticules when I am honing a razor from scratch. I set the bevel and make the blade basically shave ready with a large, fast 20x5cm LPB sitting on the bench top. I then do my finishing laps on a much slower La Verte, and because I like to do my finishing laps with the stone held in my hand, that one is smaller, 150x5cm. That system works best for me.

+1 on the LPB getting the job done fast

I'm going to throw a curve ball here. I have a coti, but my opinion is, save the money and buy a Chosera 1k. I've only had mine for a short time, and I'm not a pro, but my edges have improved dramatically since getting the Chosera. Pair that with a Norton 4/8 and a pasted paddle for finishing and you have a great setup. Again, YMMV.