Thread: Coticule experiences

While I've been focused on jnats, I've acquired a couple of coticules. I've poured over the coticule.be site and have begun to work with 1 coticule, trying to produce the the silky smooth edges many who swear by coticules can achieve. At this point in my early explorations, I have been able to get an edge that shaves, but not that silky smooth edge.

Can you more experienced honers chip in with your experiences, techniques and tips to use a coticule? Is the BBW side of use as a finisher, or perhaps a pre finisher?
Some have found success with the dilocut method, others the unicot method and still others using the coticule under running water only. Of course I'll try it all and form my own opinions, but any information which can improve my technique is appreciated.

As an aside, using half strokes in the finishing process is something I currently do not employ, though Alex Gilmore and the coticule.be experts do use that method. Any clarity and experiences using half strokes during the finishing process are also appreciated.

Welcome to the "Rabbit Hole!"
Each Coticule I have used required a learning curve. What you have found on line is the best general knowledge available.
I would suggest that you find someone in your area "Local Help" to aid you in your journey. At a recent get together one gentleman had the best of help and by the end of the meet he got a fair to good edge.
shavelibrary.com/index/Local_Help
They are natural stones and so are each a bit different in quantity, quality, and size of the grit in the matrix. Other stones, from large layers of the rock may be more homogeneous in grit distribution and hardness and so are easier to learn.

All that said; a good coticule in the right hands make a razor a lifetime friend.
JMO
~Richard

I use a coticule on some razors and others I use an Arkansas. Both of my stones will talk to me. The coticule, with weight of the blade only and no slurry, will start to chatter or skip if you will across the stone. That's when it tells me, "I'm done." It's hard for me to describe and something you really have to experience to understand.

On the other hand my translucent Arkansas will sing at first and gradually get quieter as I hone. When it quits singing then I'm done honing and ready to strop-n-shave.

I too have recently been trying to learn the coticule. Im getting shavable results but to ke it feels like a standard 8k shave. One time i managed to get a touch more out of the edge but then i lost it. Really havent found the stickyness while honing and have not found the buttery smooth edge yet.

Keep it up and maybe soon we both will find the secrete.

BTW, i too have read everything on that site a few times. Took notes, asked for personnal help and got lots of 8nfo from others. But i havent got any one on one, in person help. Jusf no pro coti user in my area i guess. But keep 9n keeping on and i know it will c9me to us both in time.

If you already use jnats, a coticule is like going backwards three steps. some people rave about them, but i feel they are just trying to justify sub par performance from an expensive hone. ive tried so many, and the shaves were always subpar. ive had razors "professionally" honed on coticules, and the results were the same. its like trying to shave off a 6k. this is all my personal opinion and how i feel about the cotcule. its an inferior stone that provides an inferior shave when compared to even mediocre jnats. any stone that requires the stars to align, the moon to be full, a full solar eclipse, a little witchcraft, and possibly the sacrifice of a virgin to the gods in order to get a good edge is not fun to try and learn.

Definitely hard finding good jnat edge but they are out there and not for everyone. I like coti edge I get a lot (I have 2 hard, good finishing jnats) and I still use coti to finish some razors. ALTHOUGH my coti is not average coti, and extremely fine finishing cotis are rare. I like them though fun to use

I believe my coti is as Christian has just described. A finisher. I get amazing smooth edges from it, I sold my Nani 12k after getting mine. I worked with it for a few days and BAM!!!

But when you feel my coti, it feels about as smooth as my Nani 12k did.

Originally Posted by Benz

I use a coticule on some razors and others I use an Arkansas. Both of my stones will talk to me. The coticule, with weight of the blade only and no slurry, will start to chatter or skip if you will across the stone. That's when it tells me, "I'm done." It's hard for me to describe and something you really have to experience to understand.

On the other hand my translucent Arkansas will sing at first and gradually get quieter as I hone. When it quits singing then I'm done honing and ready to strop-n-shave.

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

Originally Posted by prodigy

If you already use jnats, a coticule is like going backwards three steps. some people rave about them, but i feel they are just trying to justify sub par performance from an expensive hone. ive tried so many, and the shaves were always subpar. ive had razors "professionally" honed on coticules, and the results were the same. its like trying to shave off a 6k. this is all my personal opinion and how i feel about the cotcule. its an inferior stone that provides an inferior shave when compared to even mediocre jnats. any stone that requires the stars to align, the moon to be full, a full solar eclipse, a little witchcraft, and possibly the sacrifice of a virgin to the gods in order to get a good edge is not fun to try and learn.

I have spent months with 2 superb Jnats. I've been able to get some extremely nice edges. But in this hobby we are always chasing a little extra something, even if it may, or may not be possible.

Reminds me of the old gold prospector who spent a lifetime searching for "the mother lode" and only found a few small nuggets. In reality the "mother lode" eroded away probably thousands of years ago, maybe much longer.

They have been mining coticules a very long time and a deposit is only so big. Once the choice rock has been mined the quality decreases and the quantity becomes erratic. Many feel those mines are now producing inferior stones.

I know the one I have is a great stone probably around 8k. However there are better out there in syntheticville.

Coticules aren't really expensive stones so there is nothing to justify. Now when you compare them to many Japanese Stones now you be talking some real money. There's plenty to justify there.

In the end they are just rocks afterall.