My New Bout

After watching Alex's great honing video, I finally decided to invest in a yellow coticule. So, I contacted Howard at ThePerfectEdge.com, sent him a link to Alex's video and said "You got anything like this?" Well, Howard got right back to me with a, "Yes, but just a bit bigger." Howard's price was great and so I replied, "SOLD!" Ok, well not exactly how it went down, but a little paraphrasing never hurt anybody. Well, the hone came in today, and just in time to refresh the edges on a couple razors, namely my beautiful Boker.

I love this bout. The whole idea of a unique shape really appeals to me. Plus, it takes a technique that is individual to the hone do to the unique shape. It all just has so much character, which is something I really like.

I also like the slower cutting nature of the coticule, in contrast to the quick cutting nature the Norton. The Norton is great for getting the edge close fast, but I really like the final stages to be a slower process for that fine tuning. Sadlyd, both arms are hairless again.

I attached a photo below of the hone just after sharpening my Boker. I have to say, it is the sharpest I have managed to get a razor yet.

Matt

Attachment 2286

From a shaver: CONGRATS!

From an art photographer: Great image! The lines and the balance are very nice. The shape of the countertop and the hone, with smoothness in the blade work very well


Please let us know if you continue to enjoy the coticule.

Very nice. Good to hear that you found succes.

I have got a Coticule too, it's 200x60
and i take also a blue stone, same dimension
Tirth stone is an Italian coarser (1600-1800 Jis) hne, called "2 medaglie"

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6...2008ro3.th.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1...2007he6.th.jpg

That's a beautiful piece. And I agree about the quality of the picture. There's just a simple beauty to it. Very appealing to the eye. Please, let us know how you like it after using it for a while.

That coticule has a very nice color to it and the shape looks like it would work very well for sharpening razors. Don't you wish that you had more razors that need polishing lol.

Thanks for the compliments on the picture guys. And yes, I wish I had more razors to polish now haha.

Matt

You could start your own honing service after you get a few months more experience.

Just out of curiosity, what are you using to generate the slurry?

When I ordered it the bout, I forgot to add a cotigura stone. It is really just a small piece of coticule that works well to generate the slurry. I e-mailed Howard realizing I had forgotten to add it to the order. He said that the razor does generate some slurry on the stone and to try it without the rubbing stone. It worked well last night without the slurry and I got the razor honed up easily enough, but I think it will work better with a cotigura, so I placed an order for one this morning.

As for a honing service, well.... I'm not sure I'm there yet.

Matt

That looks like a nice piece of rock, alright. I hope it works well for you.

X

I enjoy bout (pronounced "boo") for the same reason. The world is just so full of rectangular hones. I also have a nice Arkansas Washita that is shaped like that on my bench and it always draws comments from knowledgeable tool users. Got it at a rock shop dump out back of the shop in Hot Springs. I keep a bout in my bathroom and that's what I often use for my razor. Alex uses one also in his video and I was glad to see it. Thanks for the tip on his video. I've asked him for permission to put it on my website but haven't heard from him yet.

You should have. I uploaded the video especially for you and sent you the link.

Nice bout Matt:)
Been trying to talk my wife into letting me get one, but I might have to buy it and I say I thought you said it was ok:roflmao

I like the idea of an odd shaped stone. Is this the one Howard sells in sq. inches? If so how many inches is the one in the picture? Also does this stone kinda take the place of a pasted strop? I am getting the impression that it is for final honing or touch ups. I'm on week three with my not as new Dovo and I think it could use a couple of passes on a pasted strop or stone. Is this what I need or would I be ahead with a pasted paddle from Tony? I think I will order a 4K/8K in the near future to try to get a couple of grampaws old straghts ready for use (they are just barely shave your arm sharp been about 40 years sence use). I understand that off the 8K they could still use a little polish befor the hanging strop.
Thanks for the support so far. I can't see going back to the cartrige ever. The shaves just keep getting better.
Don

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your new found shaving liberation. As far as the size goes, I would estimate somewhere around 14 to 15 square inches. It is a pretty large bout. You can certainly just use a pasted paddle. I still take my razors to the .5 chromium side of my Tony Miller paddle after polishing on the coticule. It isn't really for sharpening, but I find the chromium makes the edge more comfortable to shave with. I used a pasted paddle for several months before investing in the coticule bout. I get a better edge when using the bout, but just slightly better. The paddle will certainly do the trick on its own. The coticule will also work on its own without the paddle. I just like to use them together since I have both.

Matt