New to Coticule honing

Hello gentlemen,

I recently purchased a coticule (70mm X 150mm) from The Superior Shave referenced in this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...rd-trying.html

I spent some time with it this weekend on a Ralf Aust that just needed a little refresh. I plan to start slow. I raised a little slurry with the included slurry stone, slightly milky but not too heavy. I then diluted the slurry until it was just water and finished with 10 to 20 X-strokes under running water. I did not finish on my CROX pasted flelt because I wanted to feel the coticule edge. Stropped and shaved the next morning and the shave was close, the blade was very sharp but not as comfortable as I'm use to off the CROX. Took it back to the coticule the next day for a few laps with just water again and then to the CROX pasted felt. Perfect. Felt comfortable without losing any keenness on the edge. The edge was similar to my Thuringian edges after CROX pasted felt. Maybe the Thuri is a little smoother... hard to tell this early in my coticule ventures

Refreshed a W&B wedge with the coticule (one GSsixgun restored for me in this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...d-regrind.html), with 3 layers of tape on the spine ( as his notes indicated ) - finished on the CROX and this mornings shave was great. Comfortable, sharp and very close. Man I love that W&B.

Once I get some time - I will take some microscope shots of the edge on my 12K Naniwa vs the edge finished on the Coticule vs the edge finished on my Thuringian. I'm sure someone has done this before - but I'm just interested to see the differences.

Really enjoying the feel on this stone.

Adam

Coticules can take some time to learn but once you get the hang of if you can get some great edges off them, they leave really nice edges on Sheffield razors as you experienced with the W&B. Most Sheffield razors I stop with the Coticule then move on to Crox then Ferrous Oxide before SRD poly/leather strop. On a lot of the German and USA made razors I usually have to go to either the Chinese (Phig) or Translucent Arkansas before going to Crox, etc. As a general rule most of my honing is done on a Coticule. Be sure you go to www.coticule.be and watch the different honing methods, I'm sure you will discover one that works best for you.

Have fun learning your Coticule and enjoy the edges they can produce!

I'm glad to see this thread and thanks for sharing your experience so far. I am new to coticules too. I unexpectedly found two "in the wild" in April and then June. Both times they were being sold as just "sharpening stones". I'm sure one is a coticule, the other I think it is but the two look different from each other. I don't know, these are the only ones I've ever seen other than in pictures. I've had a few good shaves and one unbelievable shave where the edge felt like it was wrapped in a protective cushion bubble. I'll stay tuned for the microscope shots and wait to hear how it's going for you. Good luck with it and enjoy!

The coticule you purchased looks divine. Congratulations!

I personally don't like paste, even after a coticule, but for learning purposes it's good stuff. I find pastes to be a bit harsh sometimes.

Running water is good—for touch ups I usually run laps without running water. Just water on the hone. That's me though. Maybe I should bust out some paste again...

Good luck OP!

Coticules are fun. Probably good you became acquainted with them early on. I got going with them about a year ago. I have 4. And we have to accept, embrace that the edge you create will 99% of the time is an 8k edge. Some take their 10,12k edges to the coticule. But reality is that the coticule is repairing the harsher synthetic edge. So just be aware that they aren't a Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. Absolutely, completely different edge to shave with. That pimple on your chin, your coti edge might ride over will be sliced off with the 20k edge. Enjoy