Thread: Coticule slurry on an Ark.

I thought about that, starting heavy with yellow, cleaning the surface, then switching to a BBW for mid polishing. At first it seems like it might save some wear on the yellow coticule. But if you've already got a slurry built up, and all you need is to dilute that, I'm not sure I see the benefit of changing stones.

Well, time and experimentation will tell. At this rate I'm going to need a larger chest to store all of my rocks lol.

I have been doing this exact thing for months now with success. I also just lap my washita and use it with glycerin. I have also done the same with my soft from dans (lap and use a coticule slurry) and it works great just a few more strokes as it's slower than my washita. For some reason it seems to be a synergistic affect with Arkansas stones and slurry. I love me some Arkansas stones! The edge is amazing.

Originally Posted by Marshal

I thought about that, starting heavy with yellow, cleaning the surface, then switching to a BBW for mid polishing. At first it seems like it might save some wear on the yellow coticule. But if you've already got a slurry built up, and all you need is to dilute that, I'm not sure I see the benefit of changing stones.

Well, time and experimentation will tell. At this rate I'm going to need a larger chest to store all of my rocks lol.

Yes and no. It's easier to achieve a higher level of keenness off the bbw slurry. Once you've learned to dilute the coticule slurry efficiently the bbw becomes less useful and most discontinue it's use.

Steel I'm glad you have confirmed the method works with a Dans soft.

How do you transition to the coticule? Coticule with slurry or without like the method I showed?

I can't NOT use slurry. It's too fun. It might not be needed but I just can't help it.

Actually I have tried both ways and for me it works better if I go to slurry and dilute but my washita finish is much different then yours and my coticule may also be very different. So you just have to try it both ways with YOUR stones and see what you like best. A progression like this, with different natural stones, is very difficult for someone else to reproduce the results. A starting point yes but I think you just have to practice and experiment by trial and error.

I guess I kind of missed the point and finished my blade with my black with a coti slurry rather than starting on my soft with a coti slurry. Sorry about that.

Which makes sense because I'm not sure what the benefit the coti slurry has early in the process when setting the bevel? If it has any benefit at all. I did however enjoy the black coti slurry mix to finish the blade though.

Originally Posted by earcutter

I guess I kind of missed the point and finished my blade with my black with a coti slurry rather than starting on my soft with a coti slurry. Sorry about that.

Which makes sense because I'm not sure what the benefit the coti slurry has early in the process when setting the bevel? If it has any benefit at all. I did however enjoy the black coti slurry mix to finish the blade though.

Speed is the benefit.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Speed is the benefit.

Speed is a synthetic


All joking aside, I started my straight shaving career wanting nothing more than to start and finish with a coti. I love coti's. I could never get my coti's to set my bevels though. Not well anyway. I mean, I guess I could have had I had at it for a few hours, but I ultimately gave up trying to set a bevel with my coti... then coti's. None of mine scratched deeply enough to do the job well. I don't have any fast coti's it would seem.

That's all to say I don't know if there would be any benefit to putting a coti slurry on my soft. But I'll give it a go if I ever use my soft again.

That said, I'm really glad I didn't get what you were saying, because when I mixed the slurry on my Black - well I either got lucky or - magic lol! I can't wait to try it again. Going to give my Swedes some ark/belgian love next to see how that works out. They take a wicked edge that's sometimes just a bit too keen. Woot! Can't wait!

Just finished lapping the back side of my PHIG so I have something to tinker with when my rubbing stones arrive. I also set myself up for more lapping than I'm going to want to do. I ordered a soft and hard Arkie to play with. I'm going to HATE naturals by the time I'm finished flattening both sides and burnishing one each of those hones. And my DMT will probably not be happy with me.

What brands of soft and hard? I don't think you'll have too much trouble lapping them. Unless it's a black or translucent.

They're Best brand hones. I'll probably go through Dan's when it's time to pick up a black and translucent, but I figure for the low end going 'off-brand' shouldn't be too much of a gamble.