I have to ask - why should the coticule be used with water? I mean you make it sound like it is bad for either the razor or the stone if one uses it dry, so is there a reason other than some folks prefer the edge from the wet coticule?

If this is the only reason, then I can attest to the fact that the dry coticule actually produces a better edge - the shave is markedly better; and it is the wet coticule that produces an edge that is more polished.

There, we now have conflicting opinions.

Quote Originally Posted by Howard View Post
The belgian stones should be used wet. The photos from Tim Zowada indicate the dry honing method leaves a shiny edge on the razor but reports from a few different honers indicate the shave isn't as good as the less
shiny edge from a wet slurry.