Thread: Can't keep an edge

Originally Posted by rodb

I have the same King stone, try it with slurry, it really sped it up. I didn't have much luck either with it until I tried that.

What do you use to raise the slurry? Coticule, diamond stone? On the 1K stone, do I want King slurry, or a finer coticule slurry? Do I need to worry about contaminating my coticule slurry stone with 1K grit?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

There has always been a debate over how much, Coticule slurry breaks down, probably not so much, which is why you have to dilute to get the best results, when and how much to dilute is trial and error. But it is all moot, if your stone grits are in the wrong order.

More than likely no matter the progression, you are not doing enough laps. On heavy slurry, do lots of circles to flatten the bevels, finish on x laps, then dilute on the most aggressive stone to finish. Use ink to monitor your progress.

I assume that my La Grise with slurry is faster than the BBW with slurry, correct? That is why I use the coticule for bevel setting. I do the dilucot on the BBW because somewhere I read I would get a keener edge, though it would take more time. I read somewhere that fingertips cannot determine a grit much finer than 3-4K, but your tongue is good to 8K+. By tongue and razor feedback I believe my bout is finer than the La Grise.

I will take the 'not doing enough laps' to heart. And I will incorporate the 'inked bevel' test. Thanks for all the fine advice.

These describe the characteristics of THOSE La Grise hones, yours might act somewhat like them:

http://www.coticule.be/coticule001.html
http://www.coticule.be/coticule002.html
http://www.coticule.be/coticule047.html

Some words by Bart about that last La Grise:

Not the fastest Coticule, but still potent enough to recondition the bevel of a dull razor. Finishing on water is slower than average, with a very keen and mellow edge result, as long as you're not afraid of doing enough laps, somewhere between 100 and 200 to finish a Dilucot. The edge will be very nice earlier than that, but it absolutely pays to give this Coticule time to work its magic on water.

If the edge is far off, I'd rather be using a Coticule with slurry to set the bevel, if it's not that far off I have used the BBW with slurry to do so.
Every BBW with slurry for me has been (much) slower than my Coticule with slurry though, it all works, it just depends how fast or how slow it all works.

Good luck!

just a small hint

We might end up having a small Idaho get together up at my place around the 21st - 22nd of July consider this an invite..

Bring your Coticules and let's find out what is going on

Originally Posted by cau

What do you use to raise the slurry? Coticule, diamond stone? On the 1K stone, do I want King slurry, or a finer coticule slurry? Do I need to worry about contaminating my coticule slurry stone with 1K grit?

For a 1.2k? Most likely a well worn DMT or a fine diamond hone. Using something finer than the king material will actually slow you down, or so I would think.

I have credit card sized diamond plate I use, but any diamond plate would work

Originally Posted by cau

What do you use to raise the slurry? Coticule, diamond stone? On the 1K stone, do I want King slurry, or a finer coticule slurry? Do I need to worry about contaminating my coticule slurry stone with 1K grit?

Thanks for the links Tristan. Mine looks more like the second one, like wood grain with a little bit of blue. Mine doesn't seem to be 'moderate' on slurry though. I have only the CH Laurent and a SRDroescher that I have ever attempted to bring back to life. I guess I just need to spend more time at the early stage. I've read stories of honemiester's taking a chipped blade to HHT in 20 minutes or so... So I thought with my limited tools, knowledge, and experience a couple of hours would suffice. I guess not.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

just a small hint

We might end up having a small Idaho get together up at my place around the 21st - 22nd of July consider this an invite..

Bring your Coticules and let's find out what is going on

How small?

“I assume that my La Grise with slurry is faster than the BBW with slurry, correct? “
No.

They are Natural stones, and even if they were from the same layer of coticule as yours, they might be very different in performance. In addition to grit size, pressure and slurry will affect results.

So, just because it looks like X stone, does not mean it will perform like someone else’s stone.

You do not need to slurry any synthetic stone, a King 1k will auto slurry and the 1200 should work just fine for setting a bevel. You do not need more speed, just a lower grit than your coticule or more laps.

Kings are soft, so you will have to lap with your 325 diamond plate.

You will learn more about honing and your stones, in one hour, with Glen than watching years, of videos and posts.

Just ran into this problem. What helped me was pointing my iPhone light at the edge straight on to see when the reflection goes away. Then trying the arm hair test. Works like a charm. If you lightly joint the edge on the 1k and point the light you will see clearly what I'm talking about. I can now set a bevel in a few minutes. Hope this helps!


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