Thread: how do you use the coticule

Hmmmm.

Could be.

Randy, Mparker, Lynn, Tony, Howard, et al, help us here.

I just talked to Howard this morning and he told me that the garnets in the blue coticule are bigger than those in the yellow coticule. I think that he said it had to do with the fact that the blue coticule cooled faster. You might want to send him a pm to confirm this.

Usually the slower the rock cools the bigger the xtls grow. Fast cooling results in little or no xtl growth. Xtls take time to grow and the right amount of heat. Thats why most rock or minerals contain no visible xtls. Xtls big enough to see are actually quite rare.

Comparing the Belgian Blue with the yellow coticule is like comparing sand paper with rough grit to fine grit. The rough grit is coarser and thats the same with the belgian blue though its still a slow cutter. I have alternated the blue with the coticule but usually there is no advantage if your using the Norton 8K. You would usually just go straight to the coticule. There are instances where that approach just doesn't seem to work so you experiment with more unorthodox ways of honing and sometimes a blade will repond to the blue better than the 8K or sometimes the blue can be used intermediate between the 8 and the coticule.

To the original question.....

Don't worry about the HHT after the coticule. Just compare the shave after the 8K and after the coticule. Decide which you prefer and go with that. I do not obtain the same answer with different razors. The differences in steel and grind cause different results.

Just my two cents,

I also use a thin slurry. The thick slurry seems to be counterproductive.

I have the impression that thick coticule slurry is extremely abrasive, and takes away metal faster than you can say ´dude where´s my edge´

time for some more experimenting:

I'm glad this thread popped up, cause ever since I got the 4/8k I have the same problem. I thought my coticule was just fake or my skills sucks since it requires an x pattern.
I've just tried a razor that was already popping hair off the 8k and again it doesn't pass HHT after a few dozen laps on the coticule. (However the coticule is a quarter size of the 4/8k norton) I guess I'll take randy's advice, ignore the HHT and test shave it the next time.

use a microscope to look at the bevel after it comes off the 8k norton, then again after the coticle. Does the coticule make the bevel more polished? or does it make the bevel look like it was just used on a courser stone?
I bought a new coticule last year that isnt worth a flip for a finishing hone, it is just to course. when i look at the bevel after the coticule it looks like it just came off the norton 4k. If your bevel does not look more polished I would guess you have a course coticule that will not work as a finishing hone.

Originally Posted by trapperjohnme

use a microscope to look at the bevel after it comes off the 8k norton, then again after the coticle. Does the coticule make the bevel more polished? or does it make the bevel look like it was just used on a courser stone?
I bought a new coticule last year that isnt worth a flip for a finishing hone, it is just to course. when i look at the bevel after the coticule it looks like it just came off the norton 4k. If your bevel does not look more polished I would guess you have a course coticule that will not work as a finishing hone.

I am all for using a microscope but:
IF the Coticule edge looks just like it's off the 4K - this does not explain the inability to pass the HHT after the Coticule (because I pass the HHT off 4K before I move to 8K or Coticule)

Cheers
Ivo

Guess I don't have to explain how I use my coticule anymore.....