Thread: Newbie coticule question

While I use straight-shavers for a while now, I am completely new to honing but very interested in learning it the right way. Quite some time ago, I purchased a Belgian Blue Whetstone and a Coticule. One and a half years later, I finally found the courage to try using them. I went on the coticule.be homepage and followed the Unicot method using only my Coticule. The first try did not work out too well as I noticed when i tried shaving with it. Therefore, I repeated the Unicot method on the same straight razor the next day and was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get the straightrazor to the point that it passed the arm hair test and after finishing the Unicot method, I got a comfortable shave out of it.

However, I was wondering if Unicot is the preferred method and when to use the Belgian Blue Whetstone. On coticule.be they discuss a progression where one starts with the coticule to establish a bevel, follow then with the Belgian Blue Whetstone to refine the edge and then finish with the coticule (no slurry, only water). Is that the best way?
Any advice on Coticules and Bbw is appreciated.

Thanks,
Boris

From my own experiences I have found the Blue to be a very slow stone at maybe a 6K level at best. I think there are better choices. The coticule depending on your particular stone can vary from 8K to maybe 10K with luck. I use mine as a finisher but not final finisher. I don't use the Unicot method. When the Coticule was the only finisher I had I was very pleased with the result shave wise.

Thanks for your fast reply. May I ask what method you are using?

Boris I'm not a pro but I've had good luck with the unicot method, no BBW side.
My stone seems to work well as a finisher. I was going to try the dilucot method on a razor tonight...

Thanks. You mention that your coticule works well as a finisher. Do you use any other stones but the coticule? Please let me know what you think of the dilucot vs. unicot method once you have tried both.

Thanks,
Boris

Yes I have a couple other naturals and the naniwa 12k. So far the best edge I've had is from my coticule, but have also had good results from my oozuku. This is with no pastes/sprays. Even those edges can be improved if I use those afterwards, in my experience.

Most important issue with new stones is - are they flat? Also, not sure you need the BB. You can do it all on the Coticule by starting with mud and thinning the slurry. Do you have a loop to check the bevel? Have you done a sharpie test to see if the entire edge is on the hone? Starting out you might find Unicot easier to get the edge you want but Dilucot can achieve the same. Don't forget which razors are Unicot and which are Dilucot. Honing an untapped Unicot will just destroy the secondary bevel and not touch the edge.

My method is very simple. I apply some water and and hone in an X pattern with no applied pressure with most razors. Problem razors get altered strokes depending on the issue.

I have used the dilucot method with success but found it a little tedious and time consuming. My best coticule results were as a finisher. I hit it with plain water after a Nani 12k. That might sound strange since I'm actually going down in grit, but that's how I got the best edge vs. off an 8k. They are very cool stones especially being a one stone tool kit, but I prefer a more staged honing style.

I use a BBW and Coticule after the bevel has been set on another stone. I use the BBW to save excessive wear on my more-expensive Coticule, but I also like the heavy slurry I can use on the BBW. You have to be careful not to use to heavy of slurry on the Coticule after the BBW. Also, I've benefited from going back to the BBW and Coticule again after having gone through them once already. Strange, but true. YMMV.