Thread: Coticule

I just bought a very small coticule to try out, and I am very impressed.
I have had a problem with honing for a while as I cannot tolerate an edge straight from the 8k norton. Up until now I have been using diamond paste to get my razors sharp enough with varying success.
I think the pastes seem to create a false sharpness though - please correct me on this if you disagree. I can make a quite dull razor superficially sharp using pastes, but I think that it rounds over the edge slightly - I have no proof of this but it just seems this way when I consider how my razors were acting.(My other decision was to stop using sandpaper to do the heavier work and to buy a 1k stone)
Anyway, to get to the point the coticule seems to put a very fine edge on whilst keeping a very flat bevel and also gave me the most comfortable shave I have had for a long time. Now I just have to get it right on all my razors.
I'm very tempted to get a higher grit stone to see if it improves even more but I can't afford the 30k shapton yet!
Thanks for all the great advice that led me to buy this eventually after nearly a year of shaving!

Something similar has happened me. My coticule came Saturday from Howard. With Norton 4000/8000 it obtained that it shaved easily but caused irritation to me. I have given to straight 40 blows in coticule and could go against the grain without irritation. I have the added difficulty that laminates “wapienica” does not touch totally in the stone. It buys it to learn to sharpen with stone and not to spoil my dovo. I think that we are in the good way. There is post very good of joshEarl where it says that with the Norton always conseguia irritation and has solved it with coticule. It even affirms that with Belgian a blue one it obtains a wonderful smoothness without irritation. Before buying shapton 30k consultaria with Howard or some specialist of your confidence, a so expensive stone perhaps does not produce the result who you wish. The following connection contains a very valuable information on coticules. http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...light=coticule

Greetings from Barcelona

Sorry for my bad inglish

It's funny, I just got my coticule from Howard in the mail today and my first thought upon ripping it open was "THIS IS IT?!...THIS is the almighty coticule. THIS is what everyone rants and raves about and aspires to have...THIS!?!?!" Though, I haven't used it yet, and before I do I have to talk with Howard to figure out some issues that arose with my order. I'm looking forward to it though.

Also in the box was a DMT diamond hone, which must be the most unimpressive looking, roughly finished, utilitarian thing ever made. Just a big hunk of steel with 4 little rubber feet glued to the bottom! The sides and bottom aren't even polished to give it at least some allure of professionalism.

Has anyone here ever used a shapton 30k?

Welcome to the club, guys.

Nick, it has also been my experience that pasted paddle strops create a different kind of edge. I'm not sure exactly how or why, but the edges just weren't very durable for me. I'd get a great shave on day one, but day two was invariably bad. I haven't tried pastes in a while, though, and I've been planning to dig my bench hones out of the honing "junk trunk"...

I wouldn't let this discourage anyone from trying pasted paddles, because they work great for a lot of guys. Not so much for me, though.

Eric, your description of the DMT had me laughing out loud. Give these seemingly humble pieces of equipment a few weeks; I'll bet they grow on you.

I haven't used a Shapton 30K myself, but I have used razors honed on it by a former member. It produces an excellent edge, definitely sharper than a coticule, and with a different feel. I may end up buying one myself eventually, but right now I'm happy with my coticule as a finisher.

One thing about the Shaptons, I've heard, is that they are pretty fast hones. They will overhone an edge if you aren't very careful. I really like that the natural hones don't seem to have this tendency.

Josh

Josh,

This overhoning thing -- do you suppose that very gentle honing creates something like "steel foil" at the edge? A long, extruded burr, if you will. My mental picture of honing is that the finer and finer stones used progressively remove the burr left from the previous stone and that the pyramid honing scheme is used to help remove the burr expediously and prevent the development of the flap of "steel foil".

Do you think it is possible that we are encouraged to use too little pressure on the stone and that this enables the overhoning to occur? With more pressure on the stome, wouldn't the likelyhood of removing the troublesome burr be better assured?

Bruce

Oh, by the by, I honed a razor for myself over the weekend and had to try it last night. I think I got it right as it was a smooth shave. I put the TI through its paces on the 4K and 8K Norton and finished it on a Belgian natural combination with slurry on the blue and water on the yellow. I know if I get too smug about this the new house of cards will have falling shoes. ??how does that go?? Right now I'm smoothly tickled that things seemed to go well.

Originally Posted by Bruce

Josh,

This overhoning thing -- do you suppose that very gentle honing creates something like "steel foil" at the edge? A long, extruded burr, if you will. My mental picture of honing is that the finer and finer stones used progressively remove the burr left from the previous stone and that the pyramid honing scheme is used to help remove the burr expediously and prevent the development of the flap of "steel foil".

Do you think it is possible that we are encouraged to use too little pressure on the stone and that this enables the overhoning to occur? With more pressure on the stome, wouldn't the likelyhood of removing the troublesome burr be better assured?

Bruce

Oh, by the by, I honed a razor for myself over the weekend and had to try it last night. I think I got it right as it was a smooth shave. I put the TI through its paces on the 4K and 8K Norton and finished it on a Belgian natural combination with slurry on the blue and water on the yellow. I know if I get too smug about this the new house of cards will have falling shoes. ??how does that go?? Right now I'm smoothly tickled that things seemed to go well.

No, it is too much pressure that causes a wire edge. Using less pressure prevents a wire/burr edge from forming. The reason is that when you use pressure you are flexing the edge up and sharpening the base of the edge on the stone, not the tip. Eventually when you hone the base too much there is no place for the tip of the edge to go so it forms a wire/burr.