Thanks for your thoughts, gents. I agree the DMT seems more abusive to the coticule than it needs to be. I like the penny idea since copper is soft enough that I'd think any metal it leaves behind wouldn't interfere with the honing process. Besides, with bowls of pennies all over the place, they needn't even cost a cent!

I know Howard sells cotiguras, and if I like working with a slurry, I'll likely order one, but I wanted to try it once before I go to the expense of the cotigura.