Thread: Humbled by my coticule

In general, I and others have found that if you get a strong 'violin' hht off your coticule (where the hair bops across the edge) your edge is at a point where you can finish on water (30+ X-strokes, it's hard to overdo this) strop (min. 60 linen & 60 leather) and shave comfortably.

Not a fast, universal truth, but often the case. Check against a shave test and tweak when necessary.

synthetics are fool proof and I like the naniwas for that reason and there is no doubt every one should learn with a set .

Now you want to try your hand at coticule. Have you got a picture of your coticule? I don't experiment with different coticules newer days as I have two that suit my needs.

Go to coticule.be read through the sharpening academy it explains everything from hht to unicot to dilucot and stropping on linen and it's effects.

I have three Coticules and the work fine. I got better after I watched drmatt357 four videos on YouTube. I highly recommend them.

What you need to look at is the edge, with magnification. Often folks get caught up in looking at the bevel and forget the edge. As you gain more experience and learn your stone, you can do both at the same time.

Also maxing out the 1k bevel and edge will make your natural finish much easier and faster.

When jumping from a synthetic to a natural you can watch the bevel, (removing the deep stria), with a bit of pressure and circles, then concentrate on straightening the edge, with x strokes and light laps with thin slurry. Jointing it straight will help.

Some stones prefer finishing on light slurry, some plain water. Most require many more laps than synthetics.

It is a question of pressure, thickness of the slurry and the number of laps. Also try stropping, then finishing on clear water or very thin slurry to finish.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Also try stropping, then finishing on clear water or very thin slurry to finish.

This has always given me my best edges off of a coticule

I find that when the edge isn't completely to my satisfaction after stropping, going back to a light finishing with water on the coticule and then back to the strop a couple of times helps zero in on the edge I want.

Originally Posted by Badgister

I find that when the edge isn't completely to my satisfaction after stropping, going back to a light finishing with water on the coticule and then back to the strop a couple of times helps zero in on the edge I want.

I have experienced the same. With coticules and Thuringians.