Thread: First honing.

Here we are. Today I received my coticule and I couldn't help trying it. I placed the stone under a gentle stream of water in the sink in the kitchen and started x-stroke until I felt the resistance increase. Then I increased the water jet until the friction increased again. In the end I removed the insulating tape on the back of the razor and ran to shave. I can't say it has been the best so far but I was able to shave myself sufficiently. For today I am satisfied! Any advice of course is very welcome!

Hang in there! You are already a step ahead of me when I first started honing... took me a couple of years and sitting down with a mentor to really groove! (and I still find a mystery now and then, where a razor looks/feels like it should be a shaver, but when I go to shave, it's not the best edge...)

Congrats on your first honing!

Originally Posted by Aldwyn

Hang in there! You are already a step ahead of me when I first started honing... took me a couple of years and sitting down with a mentor to really groove! (and I still find a mystery now and then, where a razor looks/feels like it should be a shaver, but when I go to shave, it's not the best edge...)

Congrats on your first honing!

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I know well that the path is long but I have your good company!

Buy a magnifier or loupe so you can see the edge. It’s pretty much the best way to see if the bevel has been set properly for the length of the blade.

I have used a coticule for quite a while and found that it can get the edge to “shave ready”, but I need something to take it to really finished. Chromium Oxide on a paddle strop might be all you need to get it to that next step - and a good strop.

Originally Posted by DZEC

Buy a magnifier or loupe so you can see the edge. It’s pretty much the best way to see if the bevel has been set properly for the length of the blade.

I have used a coticule for quite a while and found that it can get the edge to “shave ready”, but I need something to take it to really finished. Chromium Oxide on a paddle strop might be all you need to get it to that next step - and a good strop.

Thank you very much. I had already thought about it but I don't know which type is more suitable for the purpose (40x or more?). Regarding setting the bevel, at the moment I don't want to push things that far, my razors are still in good condition so I'll postpone this job as much as possible so to practice a little bit before fighting with the slurry!

Originally Posted by Dobel

Thank you very much. I had already thought about it but I don't know which type is more suitable for the purpose (40x or more?).

Everyone will recommend their preferences but after having bought a ton of the things I'll just say don't waste your time on anything but top optical quality.
I use a Bausch & Lomb loupe. 8 - 10 x is plenty.

Another good quality triplet loupe is a Belomo for your consideration.

https://belomostore.com/belomo-10x-triplet-loupe.html

Bob

“Then I increased the water jet until the friction increased again. In the end I removed the insulating tape on the back of the razor and ran to shave.”

I do hope you stropped before shaving. That really is a necessary step.

Originally Posted by BobH

Another good quality triplet loupe is a Belomo for your consideration.

https://belomostore.com/belomo-10x-triplet-loupe.html

Bob

I love mine.
My "go to" magnification.

Pete <:-}

I use a belomo and a carson handheld microscope.

Sharpie test. It will give much information.

Strop

My last new coticule needed lapping, it was not flat.

Have you honed on coticule with slurry? Did you get a slurry stone with it?

As you finish decrease pressure on razor.