Thread: refresh progression with coti and barber's hone?

I'm not a honer, but I’ve been keeping my razors refreshed with what may seem a strange progression. When one starts to pull, I use a coti with a watery milky consistency slurry for about 20 x strokes; Then I use a three line Swaty for 5-8 or so x strokes,; then I dilute the slurry to about half for 10-15 x strokes, then I give it another 5 on the Swaty and then I finish with about 10-15 on the coti with just water. It seems to do a good job. My question is if my use of the barber’s hone is counter productive in this progression? The coti seems a good finisher and the barbers hone works well. I like the coti’s smoothness. It seems to be a good smooth finisher and I suspect given the number of strokes that the Swaty does much of the re-sharpening. I also use one layer of tape because that’s what my razors were originally honed with. I can refresh with the coti alone but it takes many, many more strokes.

Every now and then I just use the barbers hone for 3 or 4 strokes at the first hint of pulling.
This has seemed to keep my razors shaving well. Any negatives to using this?

No, not any negative, finish depends on the stone.

A lot depends on what you are starting with, look at the bevel and edge to see if it need honing or polishing and after each stone, to find out where each should go in progression.

It does not sound like you are doing enough time on the coticule to fully polish the edge, 30-35 laps is generally not that much.

You have to look at the bevel and edge then do what it needs. Don’t know if going back and forth between the two does any good, but if it works…

If needed I would first probably, do laps on the Swaty then polish on the Coticule, but the bevel and edge will tell you if that is what it needs and if that is working.

Not at all. Actually sounds similar to what some of the old barber manuals that talk about honing say.

Why not use one or the other?

Both are capable of comfortable shaves...

Seems like you have it going your way oldsCool, if it works for you, that is all that matters.

Just wanted to say that I am still learning my first coti, it is an Old natural and the tip is, that I use the blue side with its larger garnets to wear down in slurry for the tan side of use, if the razor needed from bezel reset on up.
Tan side with the broke down slurry moves along fast and wash down to pure water is rapid for best results, still learning this stone. Best of honing to you.

Originally Posted by Castel33

Not at all. Actually sounds similar to what some of the old barber manuals that talk about honing say.

I've read several barber manuals and never have seen such a suggestion. Personally, I don't think it makes any sense to switch back and forth between the two for a touch-up.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Why not use one or the other?

Both are capable of comfortable shaves...

Exactly.

Remember the admonition of "less is more?" Well, in this case, in my opinion, it applies. If you touch up the razor at the first sign of diminishment on the shave, then it takes very little to bring the edge back. 5 strokes on the Swaty should be sufficient.

Every now and then I just use the barbers hone for 3 or 4 strokes at the first hint of pulling.
This has seemed to keep my razors shaving well.

So you already figured that out on your own.

Now, I'm not dismissing the coticule. I would guess that most, but not all, coticules will produce an edge most would prefer over that of the Swaty. The number of strokes needed to touch up an edge will depend on the individual coticule. It may be 10 strokes or it may be 30 or more. However, I doubt that you will need to drop down to using a slurried coticule for a simple touch up.

I would guess that most, but not all, coticules will produce an edge most would prefer over that of the Swaty.

First, thanks for the responses. The swaty does a good job of keeping them sharp; I started using the coti because of the smoothness of the feel. After using the coti by itself and liking the feel, my intent was to shorten the number of strokes it took for refreshing when I used it by itself. The coti I also use for touch ups but it takes a pretty long time by itself without a little weak slurry.

Well, doing the math on your progression you're doing 80 strokes total. What I'm wondering is how many you were doing on the coticule before? Seems to me like if you want to cut strokes your best bet would be 5-10 on the barber's hone, then move to the coticule with either a light slurry or just water.

My first inclination is to question the use of both stones, but then I really think that if you have confidence in this progression and it works for you, it is JUST FINE!!

Have fun.

I'm with those who think you might be doing too much. I know when I started honing, after hunting for a couple barber hones, I had a hard time doing FIVE STROKES and quitting! I mean, all that preparation, and 5 strokes? Really? ;-)

Likely what you are doing is bringing the razor to a good shaving edge, then dulling it a little by going backwards in the progression, then bringing it back. That means you're shortening the life of the razor by taking off more metal than you need to. Sure it works for you, but I'd suggest experimenting with the concept of doing as little as you can to razor to get it shaving nicely.

On the other hand, honing is fun, and what's the fun of honing just a little?