Thread: Getting higher HHT of Coticule

Originally Posted by ppetresen

... Sham has a video on honing with an Escher where he does much the same thing as you in that he keeps it just barely balanced in his hand...

Hi ppetersen, you’re absolutely right, this video was a base for me to get into the „ballancing on fingertips“ approach. I think its due to my inconsistent stroke but with Shams method I‘ve had a feeling that I do the stroke towards me differently compared to the one away from me, cause in one direction the end of stone is hanging in the air and in other its laying on the palm. So that has brought me to try balancing on the fingertips where both of the ends are floating

Regards
Philipp

This kind of technique does 2 things. One, delicately balancing the stone prevents you from using too much pressure, and two, if your stroke is off or inconsistent, the stone can move to the razor at least some. If your stroke is off, a stone that’s free to move a bit will ‘talk to you’ - you can see and feel the stone moving when you think that it probably shouldn’t be.

But in the end, once you’ve learned what this technique can teach you, you can do the same with a bench stone in a holder.

Cheers, Steve

Great video Philipp thanks!

Gave it a try (with my Veinette) and also under running water and got a definite improvement in both keenness and comfort. It was very counter-intuitive for me because 'nothing seems to happen' with zero pressure under water (I usually apply some pressure on coticules even water only), but the proof is in the truly excellent shave.

One razor is not statistically significant but I'll see if I can reproduce this improvement with other coticules and blades.

I know he does not get a lot of respect on SRP, but didn’t Dr. Matt do a video about honing on a coticule under running water quite a while ago?

Haven't seen Dr Matt's video but I've seen Mastro Livi doing running water with a coticule (but then I've also seen him not doing running water with a coticule on a different tape too - at least he was using water-only both times )

Originally Posted by DZEC

I know he does not get a lot of respect on SRP, but didn’t Dr. Matt do a video about honing on a coticule under running water quite a while ago?

I‘ve seen Dr Matts video on finishing under running water but he was holding the coti on his palm.
I understood from MichaesS that he was combining the „ballancing on fingertips“ with „honing under running water“, am I right?

I my self unfortunately could not achieve great results under running water yet. Somehow I feel districted by the water floating over the stones surface, don‘t know exactly.
Maybe just need more practice...

Coticules are extremely variable for recipe honing. "I saw this guy do that with a coticule" means that what he did worked for that coticule.

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Great video Philipp thanks!

Gave it a try (with my Veinette) and also under running water and got a definite improvement in both keenness and comfort. It was very counter-intuitive for me because 'nothing seems to happen' with zero pressure under water (I usually apply some pressure on coticules even water only), but the proof is in the truly excellent shave.

One razor is not statistically significant but I'll see if I can reproduce this improvement with other coticules and blades.

Happy to hear the method has helped you to get a little bit forward

Coticules to me are the most variable of all natural stones. You can go from honing on gravel to honing on silk. You have to test each stone to see what it can and can't do. If you are new it can be very difficult but with some guidance it can be done. To me they shine more in the middle on hard steels. That is what I use them for as I have found other stones to be noticeably better finisher.

Originally Posted by Philipp78

I‘ve seen Dr Matts video on finishing under running water but he was holding the coti on his palm.
I understood from MichaesS that he was combining the „ballancing on fingertips“ with „honing under running water“, am I right?

Philipp, no, I don't have a workshop and my bathroom sink doesn't allow both 'fingers' and 'running water' at the same time comfortably. I just propped up my stone with a cup in the sink (slightly lower than sink edge to ensure a slope for water run off).

Today I also did another razor with 'fingers' and water (not running) like you, but I have to wait a couple of days for a decent beard to grow back