Thread: slow coticules and metal removal

I've recently realised the coticule i have is quite a bit slower than i had thought but interestingly when setting a bevel the slurry turns dark quickly even though to set a full coticule bevel it takes around ten minutes.

but a more reliable indicator i've found useful to tell if the bevels set or not is the feel of the edge on the coticule achieves a plastic like quality and smooth feel after the bevel set. also of note, honing on a bevel cutting slurry on the coticule i have, a near mirrored bevel can be achieved and a decently sharp and keen edge can be achieved from this stage alone, almost like the coticule equivalent of the 1k stage.

i thought i would make a post about this because as a kcontrast between when i started coticule honing i was roughly 5-10 mins bevel setting, sometimes 15 mins finishing... now i spend at least 10 mins bevel setting and around 7 minutes finishing.

if any of the beginer coticule honers are having bother with their coticule try refreshing the bevel making slurry (sometimes as much as 6 or 7 times) until the feel of the edge attains a smooth buttery honing action and plastic feel to it, getting the most out of this stage before progressing.

happy honing
alex

Are you doing x-strokes, half-strokes, or circles?

And, out of curiosity, what's your method after the bevel is good to go?

I'll do a set of around 20 circles each side then i do a halfstroke/backstroke which is a halfstroke, turning the razor over and doing an edge trailing stroke in the same direction and repeat. i do about 4 half/backstrokes each side and test.

goes without saying this is the coticule i'm using, yours most probably will be different. also on the thinner full hollow edges i found i had to water the slurry down more to get the edge to start cutting armhair.

a nice way to keep a thick slurry from going dry but not dilute it is to breath on the coticule which condenses when it hits the surface and keeps your slurry at the same level.

after the bevel's set the only thing i focus on is avoiding doing something stupid and undoing the edge... thats it focus on good clean strokes 80-90% of the edge is done, light, clean honing and your home free. Its usually 3 dilutions to water after this.

on water i only do 2 half/backstrokes each side until i'm happy with the edge.

if this doesn't work, cut out the circles and just do the half/backstrokes, you'll think it would take an age to hone like this but at most it should only take around half an hour from dull to shaving if the razors a half or full hollow, and you'll learn how fast your hone really is, its very valuable as a learning experience and doesnt take that long to do either.

kind regards
Alex

Thanks. It gives me some ideas to consider.

I guess it might depend on the steel but if you're doing a bevel set in 10 minutes on a coticule I would consider that fast. Sometimes it might take me as long or longer on my Chosera 1k. OTOH, it depends on the steel, starting condition of the bevel ....... phase of the moon .......

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I guess it might depend on the steel but if you're doing a bevel set in 10 minutes on a coticule I would consider that fast. Sometimes it might take me as long or longer on my Chosera 1k. OTOH, it depends on the steel, starting condition of the bevel ....... phase of the moon .......

its usually around 15 minutes but I cant break the 10 min barrier. i dull them on glass and hone from there.