Thread: Coticule vs Escher

I have two coticules and 4 Eschers. Of Eschers two are the black and harder type, and two are the softer yellow-green ones.

I'll been honing for some years now, and mostly restore old razors. To set the bevel I use a standard progression of 1k, 3k and 8k kings.

I've found out that coticule finish best on old Sheffield razors, while the German razors from 1920's love the Escher hones. The older the razor, the hone has to be the softer YG to give the sharpest edge.

However I found out, that when progressing to the Coticule from the 8k all razors turned real sharp, but going to the Escher from the coticule, with only a few strokes, made the edge feel almost unsharpened.

I also felt that the coticule edge stays sharp longer then the Escher, so I made a little experiment.

I took two identical razors, Biedermeier 4/8 from H.Eicker und Söhne, and sharpened them up to 8k. Both where capable of shaving from here.

I then gave one razor 20 circles and 15 pigtaile strokes on the coticule, diluting the slurry in the progress. The other razor was treated with 20 circles with slurry, and 20 with only water. Then I finished it with 15 x-strokes.

I then gave both razors to a friend I know, and had him test the razors. It was a blind test, so he didn't know with razor was honed with what.

He's test result after two weeks was, that the Escher was sharpest, but the coticule held the edge longer, and gave a more comfortable shave.

It seems that I get the most out of the coticule, while the magic of the Escher eludes me.

I will repeat the test above with the one hone technique and only do bevel-setting on the 1k first.

Anyway, I love to hear your comment on the Escher problem, and I like to hear how you use it. How many strokes, pressure, with or without a coticule first and so on.

Any advice it welcome.

I like the scientific approach. I am not sure the results will be repeatable but like the time and effort involved. Also the Escher appears to be smaller than the coticule. The smaller surface area may effect the results.

I have an earlier coticule and a blue-green escher and the escher beats the coticule in every department, no contest. Not that the coticule is a slouch. it's a fine stone and puts a great edge on my razors so it's a matter of degree. I don't use different strokes dependent on the stone rather the razor and whatever issues it might have.

Hmm? Perhaps it is a question of over honing? I'll try with the one hone approach and see if that changes the picture.

The hone is 100% flat and Since I can make great edges with anything else, it must be the way I use the Eschers.

How do you guys use the Escher? How much pressure do you use?

My Eschers are also a notch above the two Coticules I have.
Although my Kosher grade natural combo coti is a fine hone indeed.

With my Eschers I have found I get the best results when finishing on a slight haze of slurry.
Mine are pretty fast for naturals, so very light pressure and not too many finishing strokes seems to be the trick

My preference: Coticule followed by the Escher.

I have a wonderfully fine La Dressant Au Bleu Coticule that is my 'go to finisher' for all Sheffields regardless of the lead up progression stones. It puts a simply stellar edge on a blade...BUT, I find that after the coticule a few soft strokes on one of my Eschers with water only takes the edge up a level or two in fineness.

As far as how long the edge lasts, I really can't say as I have WAY, WAY too many razors, and I very seldom shave with the same razor more than 2-3 times in a row.