Coticules

Well, I've been in this straight razor stuff for about a half a year now, and I know now it's going to be a lifetime endeavor. I want to purchase ( I've been saving money diligently, even with rising gas costs) a blue and yellow coticule.
1. What are the flattening/lapping procedures if different than Nortons?
2. What would be the recommended size for each if I can't afford the large 8X3? I sure like that size in my other hones though.
3. Slurry needed?
4. Any other thoughts?

Boy, my days of knife and broadhead sharpening on bastard files and Arkansas stones have sure come a long ways! Long live SRP!

1) You don't have to lap often so sandpaper on glass / a tile works fine.
2) 6x2 seems to be good value for money. I have a 6x1.5 and it works fine.
3) depends. for finishing i work without slurry. If I am still removing metal I use slurry. Buy a cotigura rubbing stone or a small piece of coticule to rub with.
4) yeah buy from howard at www.theperfectedge.com

I work with coticules only (I've been lucky) and I'd say Bruno is pretty much on par with his advice. I've never used a rubbing stone however. But it might make things easier.

Good luck!

Bruno nailed every point. A couple more points:
- Separate stones are cheaper than combos, and you actually get more of the blue to work with. You can also let the slurry dry on the stone, reducing the need to rebuild it later. (With a combo, when you flip it you lose most or all of the slurry.)
- Definitely get the cotigura rubbing stone. It makes these hones much, much more versitle.
- If you plan to hone a lot of eBay razors, consider getting a 1200-grit DMT diamond hone. The diamond-blue-yellow progression is great and works quickly. It's what Howard at www.theperfectedge.com uses on his razors.
- Another vote for the 6x2" size. I love mine, and I used to hone on an 8x3" Norton.

Good luck,
Josh

I've been honing exclusively on the norton 4/8k for a couple years now and, but to be honest there are some razors I have not been able to get shave ready on it and a strop alone. I do have pasted paddle for finishing, but after joining the forum I decided the coticule is my next purchase. I ordered a 6x2 from Howard last week, with a small coticule slurry stone. I'm hoping this does the trick on my stubborn razors.

JR,

I think you'll be pleased with your coticule, especially on those stubborn razors. It cuts more slowly, so you have more control.

Be sure to experiment with edges finished with slurry vs. those finished without. I find that the slurry is great for polishing out scratches from a coarser hone, but it leaves a lousy shaving edge for me. I finish on the stone without slurry.

You may also try going back to the 4K for a few strokes after using the coticule with slurry. I sometimes jump back to my blue after using the slurry to put some teeth on the edge. The slurry seems to over polish the edge somehow.

Have fun,
Josh

Sage advice....thanks Josh!

I debated starting another thread for this, but I think it fits here.

Does anyone use the belgian blue without a slurry? And what for?

I was thinking it might be a good stepping stone for between blue w/ slurry and yellow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by silver2k

I debated starting another thread for this, but I think it fits here.

Does anyone use the belgian blue without a slurry? And what for?

I was thinking it might be a good stepping stone for between blue w/ slurry and yellow.

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Actually no.
The blue is a very slow cutter even with slurrly, but more importantly, the blue is very soft so it always generates a slurry, even if you start off without it.

I've wondered the same thing--whether using the blue sans slurry would polish more than with the slurry. But it doesn't seem necessary, since the blue stone leaves such a fine polish on the bevel to begin with. And I think Bruno's right. The slurry would probably form anyway...

Josh

I've found the same thing, the blue seems to form its own slurry. I don't use it alot, I prefer the Norton 8K which is way faster though the result is a nicer bevel from the blue.

I think you need to have a variety of hones in your arsenal. You always find some razors that just seem to work better with different media. If one doesn't work great you can always try another.