Thread: No improvement from coticules

I have been finding that after coming off of my 8000 Shapton, I'm mowing down arm hairs like crazy. Then, after using the Belgian blue and/or yellow coticule, my blades don't cut arm hairs as well. A few more laps on the 8000, and they're back where they were. What gives?

Originally Posted by Kyle76

I have been finding that after coming off of my 8000 Shapton, I'm mowing down arm hairs like crazy. Then, after using the Belgian blue and/or yellow coticule, my blades don't cut arm hairs as well. A few more laps on the 8000, and they're back where they were. What gives?

I see a lot of threads about this. My question is how does it shave? Putting aside the arm hair test - is one more comfy than the other?

Jordan

There has been a lot of discussion about the "teeth" left on the edge after honing on different kinds of stones. Many have said that the coticules leave a very smooth edge that shaves great nut doesn't "grab" hanging hairs as well as edges from other stones.

Bottom line is: how's the shave?

Belgian blue is thought to be about 6K so it does not make sense to use it after the 8K Norton. Coticule is thought to be somewhere between 8-12K.

I would use it without slurry after the 8K as it is a coarser hone with slurry.
Use no pressure on the coticule and no more than 10-15 laps.

Just to echo what has already been said. The Blue belgian has lower grit so if your using it after the 8K your probably dulling your razor. As far as the coticule goes its an accepted fact the coticule will improve the edge so if the edge is either not improving or being degraded its an operator failure problem. The only other issue is if you got a stone that is just inferior. Where did you get yours from? There are many different grades of coticule and some aren't too good. If you have a good one then just try using only the pressure of the blade on the stone nothing more. If need be use the old marker test on the edge to make sure you are using even strokes on the stone.

I agree with the above posts. Stop using the blue side after the 8K. Do yourself a favor and shave test after the 8K then do some work on the yellow and shave test again. Then do some more work on the yellow and shave test a third time. Then you can decide for yourself. Forget the other tests at this point.

+1 and ditto! The shave is the test of tests.

I got both the blue and yellow from Howard. I didn't know the blue was a lower grit than the 8000. Thanks.

just my own personal experience. my coticule takes more then the standardly expressed 10-15laps to get my edge off it. perhaps i am applying no pressure, perhaps my stone is on the higher grit end of them. who knows. but i need about 35-40laps to get that great shave feeling.

that being said. i personally like the feeling of the Chinese 12k on my skin better then my coticule. but hey, thats just me.

~J

Originally Posted by jscott

just my own personal experience. my coticule takes more then the standardly expressed 10-15laps to get my edge off it. perhaps i am applying no pressure, perhaps my stone is on the higher grit end of them. who knows. but i need about 35-40laps to get that great shave feeling.


~J

I agree, 10 laps on a coticule is not enough for me. But.... perhaps thats because I do not take my razor to the same level of sharpness on the 8k first? It also varies with each razor, perhaps because of the steel or the grind?

Each person needs to do whatever it takes to get the edge where they want it. Unfortunately, there is no recipe.