Thread: how do you use the coticule

Each time I use the coticule after the 8K, the HHT fails afterwards.
Just to get some reference:

- do use raise a slurry? a lot?
- how many laps do you do?

My coticule is lapped flat and has rounded corners, so I'm fairly certain that it's not the stone itself.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Each time I use the coticule after the 8K, the HHT fails afterwards.

Is it passing the HHT before you use the coticule? How does it shave? Some people's hair doesn't reliably pass the HHT...

It passes the HHT along the full length of the blade without effort.
10 very light laps on a properly lapped coticule and the hair refuses to split.

It really puzzles me. I am hoping one of the honemeisters chimes in to enlighten me.

I had the same problem. I concluded that my particular coticule was to course. Seems a lot of the newer ones are not as fine grained as the vintage coticules.

I have the same problem and I dont know why this happens!!!!!

Originally Posted by trapperjohnme

I had the same problem. I concluded that my particular coticule was to course. Seems a lot of the newer ones are not as fine grained as the vintage coticules.

Considering that you can pass the HHT coming off the 4K side of the Norton, I don't think that my coticule is that course.

But that's 3 of us already with this problem. Interesting.

I am going to do a little expriment tonight.
I'll bring the razor back to HHT on the norton and then use the coticule but without slurry.

I'll have a test shave and then repeat that but with a red pasted paddle strop after the norton.

I really hope that one of the meisters here can tell me what I am doing wrong.

I do lots of stropping after the coticule....before stropping it doesn't ever pass the HHT. It's an anomaly from what I understand but since the result is always good in the end I don't care.

Would overhoning be the problem here?

I don't think so. I have shaved right off the 8K (with stropping of course) and had very comfortable shaves.

Then I did 30 laps on the coticule. The HHT failed after that, and the shaves were about he same. Perhaps the blade was even a bit duller.

But I did not have any burning sensation, so overhoning seems very unlikely. I have also heard that an overhoned edge will pass the HHT because of all the serrations.

So whats the big deal with the hanging hair test. You guys are so fixated with the test I don't hear about whether the razor shaves well or not. If it does who cares about the test.

Personally, I've never had any razor pass the HHT off any hone and I don't worry about it. If it doesn't shave well when I'm done then I worry.

If you get good results off the 4K and 8K then you know there is no problem with your technique. What you should be doing is trying to shave after the 8K and then after the Coticule and compare the differences. If there are none then reevaluate you pressure on the hone or the number of strokes.