Thread: Coticule honing

Sorry if I'm rehashing questions that have already been asked. My previous reference--the "Coticule Chronicles" was mostly lost in the crash. Having read it, though, here is my question: the only stone I have is a combination yellow/blue coticule. When I bought it, the advice I was given was that I didn't need a Norton 4k/8k if all I was going to do was touch up razors that already had an edge. This is the case as my few razors were purchased new and then honed by a honemeister or purchased on B/S/T and advertised as shave-ready--which I do not doubt. Is there a pyramid progression as with the 4k/8k that should be followed with the coticule, should I just hone and test on one side until I feel it is shave ready? I am very new at this and am looking for a base guideline so that I can learn. Thanks.

Hi Rob -
Yeah, it's a real shame that the Chronicles were mostly lost. There was a ton of great info there. Let me start by saying that I am not a honemeister. I am really coming along and I have some super sharp edges to my name but I do not have vast experience to pull from like some of these guys do.
That being said, I have a Norton 4k/8k and a Yellow Coticule and a Chinese 12k (new to me last week - but WOW those edges ). Personally, I haven't had great luck with the pyramids. I have better results building the sharpness progressively. Obviously, others will disagree. The bottom line is the end result and I don't think anyone disagrees about that.
If your razors were properly honed and shaved well, you should be able to maintain the edges with only the Yellow. The blue, they say, is a slow cutting 6k-8k and will not be needed for touchups. Be sure that your stones are lapped flat and the corners are dulled - use a super light touch - and you should have no problem maintaining super sharp and comfortable shavers. I nearly always just use water with my Yellow, as the Nagura stone slurry hasn't really helped me a lot - but you may find a slurry helps if you have an edge that has gotten a little extra dull.
Basically, it takes practice and experimentation. Good luck!

The Coticule Chronicles are lost? That's the first time I hear it, what a pity! So many people contributed valuable advice and experiences there...

You can try only 10-30 passes on the yellow coticule with water only to maintain an edge (if it has not been dulled too much). In duller cases, 30-50 on blue (possibly with light slurry for more action) followed by 30-50 on yellow seems to give me good results. I don't do pyramids with the Belgian combo

Cheers
Ivo

In the tradition of Rambo V and Rocky XIII, perhaps we'll soon have "Coticule Chronicles II: The Lost Chapters."

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

In the tradition of Rambo V and Rocky XIII, perhaps we'll soon have "Coticule Chronicles II: The Lost Chapters."

Josh

ya but it won't be the same and the old / first is always better

Didn't anyone save the whole thread or something? Maybe in PC cache

Cheers
Ivo

True 'dat.

I just checked, and a lot of it is still there. Actually, if I remember the sequence right, the main thing that's missing is the discussion as to whether it was really possible to overhone on a coticule. David probably had some good posts lost, too.

I'll have to resurrect that thread and try to get some of that stuff back.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

True 'dat.

I just checked, and a lot of it is still there. Actually, if I remember the sequence right, the main thing that's missing is the discussion as to whether it was really possible to overhone on a coticule. David probably had some good posts lost, too.

I'll have to resurrect that thread and try to get some of that stuff back.

Josh

That's what I was going to add - that according to the Chronicles, a wire edge is not a problem IF a proper stroke is used on the yellow. That is the main thing the pyramids on the Norton are trying to avoid.

As long as you catch the edge before it deteriorates too much the yellow is all you should ever need. Many use pasted strops to do the same thing. Just be careful with your blades and don't chip them because if you do then you'll need something else.