Thread: Just ordered coticule....

I would hone on the 4k then the coti. Test the edge then try and improve with the 8k. If you improve it with the 8k the keep working the coti. If not then it will be hard to tell with your progression but you will know it will be a good finisher after 8k. Maybe try and meet up and borrow a 10 & 12 k hone off someone. Good luck and have fun experimenting. Ed

Originally Posted by eddy79

I would hone on the 4k then the coti. Test the edge then try and improve with the 8k. If you improve it with the 8k the keep working the coti. If not then it will be hard to tell with your progression but you will know it will be a good finisher after 8k. Maybe try and meet up and borrow a 10 & 12 k hone off someone. Good luck and have fun experimenting. Ed

I will try that - I have a 12K Naniwa that I haven't been using much since I started with the Shaptons.

I was going to use the Dilucot method and was wondering how many stokes at each dilution would suffice?

-john

Maybe its just me and I have a different perspective on this but does it make sense to try to fit a Coticule into a full progression of Shapton stones? If you start on your Shaptons and will finish on them, I don't see the point. Instead, I would be more interested in finishing stones. If you end up finishing it on your Shapton, I don't think you'll detect much difference between the Coticule honed edge vs. any other. OTOH, if you intend to shave off of the Coticule edge you'll see a difference. Whether its an improvement from your 30k is something you'll have to find out. But I don't think I'd bother trying to fit it in between your 1k and 30K.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

Maybe its just me and I have a different perspective on this but does it make sense to try to fit a Coticule into a full progression of Shapton stones? If you start on your Shaptons and will finish on them, I don't see the point. Instead, I would be more interested in finishing stones. If you end up finishing it on your Shapton, I don't think you'll detect much difference between the Coticule honed edge vs. any other. OTOH, if you intend to shave off of the Coticule edge you'll see a difference. Whether its an improvement from your 30k is something you'll have to find out. But I don't think I'd bother trying to fit it in between your 1k and 30K.

The plan is to use the Shaptons up to 4K and then finish with the Coticule leaving the higher grit Shaptons out of the picture.

I do love my 30K edges - just want to try something new to expand my repertoire.

-john

I like many have stated, it takes a little work to get a feel for the rock.

I took my edges to 8k and then to coticule on water to see how the edges felt. One of three coticules on water made an improved edge. However, all three coticules with lather made great smooth and sharp edges.

Good luck and have fun! Put the time in and you will reap the rewards!

My first real stone was a slate-backed coticule gift from a retired barber.

Never got a really good shave out of it. Then i bought the Nortons and found i could get a better edge from the 8k.

THEN I LEARNED more about honing ("one stoning")!

Recently pulled two razors from shaving lineup, touched up one on the 4/8 and the other on the coticule.

And THIS time the coticule won the face.

Slurries and pressures and stroppings OH MY!

take your time, watch the vids, and feel that rock. we can type until our little fingers fall off, but nothing replaces some quality time in front of that particular stone.

In order to completely confuse my results, i picked up a barber hone too...

Use the coticule for a while, that's basically the best advice you could have - you need experience with it as much as you need advice. If it's a very coarse stone that leaves a dull looking edge with deep scratches and you cannot get a light enough touch to avoid that on clear water, then it's not going to make a great finisher.

In addition, coticules benefit more from a good linen than most stones, I'd venture to say that's true of any of the finishers that have bigger and duller particles and leave fairly flat grooves.

I've used a multitude of stones, and of the four coticules I've gotten, I'd say one will provide a finish like you'd expect from a finisher. One of the others is a coveted deep rock natural combo stone, but it is fast and aggressive and despite the verbiage on its label, I wouldn't consider it a finisher.

All of the one-stone stuff aside, coticules aren't really much different than anything else. You can "one stone" any stone that will finish a razor OK with clear water.

" My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." ...Forrest Gump

Same thing applies to coticules! Until you know what you have you'll never know what kind of edge you will get...

As for me: On older Sheffield blades I always follow a 12k Naniwa with a very hard 'La Dressant au Bleu' coticule (10-12K with water only) and then one of my Eschers (water only) for a few strokes. Really softens the edge and never fails to satisfy!

With 'harder steel' Germans or Americans I usually finish on the 12K and then soften the edge with either a CrOx or PbO pasted strop.

WP34

I've got an old very hard Coticule that I will never part with... if you're not trading an Ocelot for it!

Originally Posted by ocelot27

I was going to use the Dilucot method and was wondering how many stokes at each dilution would suffice?

-john

try the ardenes website it has good step by step info on both methods.