Thread: Creating a slurry

I use my cotigura on the blue aswell. Nice wee versatile stone she is.

Originally Posted by poona

I use my cotigura on the blue aswell. Nice wee versatile stone she is.

Me too.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I pretty much agree with everything that poona posted, but I have two minor disagreements. My coticule is hard enough that it generates no slurry when used with plain water unless I use TONS of pressure. I think this varies from stone to stone.

That's exactly my experience. I have worked with 3 different coticules. One created slurry out of his own very easily. The second did not create slurry on his own, not even after an extended time of honing. The third was similar to the second, but after extended honing a very thin slurry would emerge.

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Usually at this point I find the edge is properly set but it seems really dull--it won't shave arm hair at all. Dropping back to the Belgian blue for a few laps has it popping hairs again without trouble. I don't understand why this happens, but I've seen it over and over.

My theory about this is that a dense slurry abrades the very tip of the bevel as you push the razor through it. (It's a bit like pushing the edge of a knife through mud, IMHO) Of course, after the heavy work, a bit of honing with a thin slurry will get the edge keen again, so if you're without a bevel-setting stone, I think a dense slurry could be worth trying. I have one question, though. I fear that heavy pressure in conjunction with a full hollow ground razor might flex the bevel a bit. I reckon it will flex back on it's own, but while being flexed, the honing angle is actually altered. I have no idea how that would affect the honing results.

just a few additional thoughts,

Bart.

Originally Posted by poona

I use my cotigura on the blue aswell. Nice wee versatile stone she is.

Same here. It's just a little piece of triangular coticule.

Originally Posted by zepplin

Just curious.... What kind of stone do you use on the "Blue" to raise a slurry? or, do you?

Steve

A year ago or so Randy Tuttle sliced up a natural and sold the slices. It was a vintage. I was lucky to buy a section from him.

I use the blue side on my Belgian blue stone. The Coticule side was somewhat pinkish/speckled. It did not give up much slurry contents. I use it sometimes and a trianguluar cotigura other times.

Randy, If you see this did you find that to be a hard coticule? It is the darkest specimen I have.

Bart,

I like the mud analogy. The thing I don't get is why a heavy slurry on the blue doesn't have the same effect. Maybe because it cuts slower?

Josh

I've had different results on different coticules as well.

As for creating slurry on the blue, I don't it automatically appears when honing for me. The blue seems soft enough that I don't need to do anything about it.

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Bart,

I like the mud analogy. The thing I don't get is why a heavy slurry on the blue doesn't have the same effect. Maybe because it cuts slower?

Josh

Actually my blue does it too. Only a few days ago, I decided to finally tackle a Friodur that has been lying around here and never really quite got up to par. I put it on the DMT and lapped till I was absolutely sure the bevel was excellent. Great results on the TNT and TPT. I stropped it a little and it mowed arm hairs above level and passed the HHT. Actually my most promising result off the DMT so far. Then I created slurry on the blue. I overdid it a little. That blue produces a slurry very rapidly. I added some more water to dilute it, but still, while I was honing I was telling myself "this is too dense a slurry", but I continued anyway. (You know how good we humans are at ignoring the obvious). I did about 50 laps. After that the results on all test were negative. I went back to the DMT. It took me about 10 light laps to get back at were I was before the blue again. I rinsed the blue and made sure I had a lighter slurry this time (that first slurry had the consistency of coffee cream - while now it was more like watery milk) I did pretty much the same 50 laps, and stayed on track this time. Finished on the coticule and had a superb test shave.
So maybe there's variation in the blue stone too. After all, they are naturals...
I have another blue, that I haven't used much yet. A big heavy F.Herder (1/4 ground - curved spine) is anxiously waiting in the drawer to get honed. I'll put it on that other blue and see how that one behaves.

PS. A sudden strike: Like others, I create the slurry on the blue with a small piece of yellow coticule, so half of the slurry consists out of yellow particles. That might make all the difference.

Bart.

im surprised you guys use a slurry on the synthetic stones as they cut alot faster, i only use nortons, my TOS which requires a slurry and coticule which also needs a slurry. The TOS is amazingly slow cutting and the slurry is definately required anyways with it being a natural, but thanks for the info guys, im no expert but i do like to try alternatives to my routine which is really whatever works for me..

regards, simon

Josh,
I see your point, but I paid five bucks for a vintage combination blue / yellow coticule ( yes, 5 bucks). Seems like, based on the replies, my ifve dollar stone will serve double duty.

Thanks for all the input on this one.

Martin