Thread: Touching up an edge

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

No but really...

Just working one side of the blade is my guess.

Yes, a half stroke is just working one side of the blade a number of repetitions then switching to the other for the same number of repetitions. This is followed by an equal number of X strokes. Sorry if my terminology is incorrect but that is the concept. I am following this procedure with 20 strokes with .25 micron diamond spray on felt covered balsa then finally 20 with chromium oxide on balsa. These steps are based on the advice of my razor vendor. My question really is how many strokes on the select grade coticule are the correct amount? I have read everything from 7 to 50 and am looking for some direction. The hone has been lapped using wet/dry sandpaper from a relatively low grit up to 1000 grit. I hope this is a clear enough explanation for you as I am not looking for confrontation but am trying to improve my honing ability. Please confine your responses to constructive criticism. I don't need the sarcasm. Thank you.

20 strokes on diamond and crox is overkill. i use 4 strokes on crox.

did your vendor certify that it is definitely a polishing hone? maybe you just got a dud rock

I generally think of slurry as a mud that is made by a braiding the host.

I still wonder about the OPs slurry. What is it exactly. Mono? Poly? Grain size?

Regardless, I also wonder why go from a Belgian to diamonds. The shape of the grains is rather contrasting.

And yes, I suspect that much stropping on soft media (felt) may be the culprit.

Originally Posted by dcaven

Yes, a half stroke is just working one side of the blade a number of repetitions then switching to the other for the same number of repetitions. This is followed by an equal number of X strokes. Sorry if my terminology is incorrect but that is the concept. I am following this procedure with 20 strokes with .25 micron diamond spray on felt covered balsa then finally 20 with chromium oxide on balsa. These steps are based on the advice of my razor vendor. My question really is how many strokes on the select grade coticule are the correct amount? I have read everything from 7 to 50 and am looking for some direction. The hone has been lapped using wet/dry sandpaper from a relatively low grit up to 1000 grit. I hope this is a clear enough explanation for you as I am not looking for confrontation but am trying to improve my honing ability. Please confine your responses to constructive criticism. I don't need the sarcasm. Thank you.

There is no simple answer to your question. The number of strokes required will depend on the speed and size of your Coticule and how much slurry and pressure you use. In any case, 20 strokes on 0.25 diamond spray will dominate anything you do with the Coticule. The 20 strokes on CrOx is OK to add keenness to an already keen edge, but you need to get keenness from the Coticule first. Glen has already given you good advice when he asked if you had tried a light slurry. Another important point is that you need to strop a Coticule edge to assess your progress - stropping on linen will significantly improve the edge off the stone.

Another good place to ask for Coticule help is here: http://coticule.be/clinic.html (you will need register and login)

Thanks for the replies. I will dramatically lower the stropping on diamond and chromium oxide and see if that helps.

Maybe doing little test shaves Between each of the many steps you are putting your edge through might reveal where you are loosing the edge. By adding too many variables in the touch up routine, it is difficult to see where you had the edge and where you lost it.

John