Thread: Coticule experiences

Originally Posted by Midway

Would this skipping be the same feeling as stiction? That would be the feeling the blade is sticking to the stone.

I guess you could say that. When the stone has given its "all" and I push the blade down the stone it kind of jerks.

I've had a love hate relationship with coticule for the past 3 years. It was what I learned to hone on. My first hone type. I never took the 1 4 8k route.

After 3 short years and 75 coticule tested and resold. About 5 were what I would call a razor finisher. 50 were mediocre and gave maybe an 8k edge. 20 were just totally useless for me coarse. Not for shaving for knives really.

The majority of what they are digging up now is imo not suited for razor finishing hones but since coticule honing became popular back in 2009 with the notion that every coticule could finish an edge and make a wonderfully butter smooth edge. They will dig up and sell whatever cuts steel and doesn't have inclusions or flaws. They are wonderful stones but not finishing stones for the most part. Too soft and coarse from the most recent I've played with. There is far too much variation in these stones and they simply are not graded like they were back when they were used for razor hones. The fifties and prior I'm thinking.

So your best bet for a coticule finisher. Try finding a hard glassy coticule. Vintage preferrable. EBay or from a member here or elsewhere. Be wary of new hones.

Unless you know what you're looking for in a stone it's really a crap shoot for a beginner to buy a stone off a popular vendor and think they are getting this amazing stone that will give them buttery edges. Going into coticule honing with that pre-installed expectation is a recipe for dissapointment. Forgo the slurry when learning.

Know a stone might max out at a level that is lower then you expect or like.

Half strokes are good. You can use them without slurry too. Watch dr. Matt's video. Helpful stuff.

The best advice is to practice. No internet reading or YouTube will ever replace good ol stone time.


Really it's hit and miss and the hit rate is far higher with vintage stones. I've spent thousands on coticule stones and have none now...

My $0.02. To each their own.. Good luck and Have fun don't get discouraged and remember there is always one out there that will work for you. The trouble is finding it.

That is a sobering eye opener. I do have a couple of solid Jnat finishers. I’ve not sunk a lot of time and money into coticules, but will continue to try to produce a nice edge with one. I have one vintage and one newly mined stone.

Originally Posted by Midway

That is a sobering eye opener. I do have a couple of solid Jnat finishers. I’ve not sunk a lot of time and money into coticules, but will continue to try to produce a nice edge with one. I have one vintage and one newly mined stone.

Everyone has different experiences so I hope you get what you're looking for. Try as many things and try often. You'll suprise yourself. What works for one stone may not for another. Especially factoring in slurry and thickness and dilutions.

Some nights id spend hours honing on my coticule. Never throw the towel in unless you've tried your hardest. I would never preach giving up because it wasn't easy.

I must have gotten quite lucky then.
I had to remove a chip from one of my favorite razors yesterday.
Went 1k, 4k, 8k on Nortons then to my coticule.
This mornings shave was butter smooth and the edge was as close to perfect as I can make it.

Originally Posted by Dieseld

I must have gotten quite lucky then.
I had to remove a chip from one of my favorite razors yesterday.
Went 1k, 4k, 8k on Nortons then to my coticule.
This mornings shave was butter smooth and the edge was as close to perfect as I can make it.

I've had real good luck with that same hone progression on more than one Coticule

I always start on a soft Arkansas - then I move over to my vintage 'La Veinette' coticule bout (with slurry) - switch over to the (backside) BBW side (slurry)- return
to the coticule (no slurry) and finish under running water - gives me a nice edge

Originally Posted by bartds

I always start on a soft Arkansas - then I move over to my vintage 'La Veinette' coticule bout (with slurry) - switch over to the (backside) BBW side (slurry)- return
to the coticule (no slurry) and finish under running water - gives me a nice edge

Well thats a big natural run for sure.
Hope to find the secrete to that some day.