Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15
  1. #1
    Neat Freak Stuggi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Jakobstad, Finland
    Posts
    279
    Thanked: 21

    Default Weird results, coticule vs. japanese

    I just received a shave-ready Shumate #125 from gugi, and upon comparing it with my new Dovo that I honed on yellow coticule, it appeared sharper on the TPT. But, upon shaving with it, I couldn't go ATG with it, it just stopped and tugged.

    So, I concluded that the razor was too smooth for my beard, and proceeded honing it on my yellow coticule with water.

    And today I shaved with it, and behold, it appeard sharper.

    I can't really make anything of this as Gugi told me he'd given it some laps on a japanese hone (one of them really fancy ones), so it should have been a finer edge than the one of my yellow, and still my Dovo and the Shumate after resharpening worked much better...

    Disclaimer; I do not hold gugi responsible for sending me a razor that didn't work for me ATG, I just think that my beard is a bit weird. I've noticed a trend that as soon as someone posts a thread about how a "shave-ready" razor works the standard reply is "take it up in private, bad of you to take it to the public first", but since I don't have a problem with this sale, I don't see any need to take it in private...

    Has anyone else had similar experiences?

    BTW, the Shumate isn't really ready yet, it needs more coticule time, but I take the improvement as a sign that the yellow did something.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Norway
    Posts
    507
    Thanked: 95

    Default

    This seems a little strange, as I have both a coticule and a Japanese Natural and they really don't compare regarding the sharpness level I'm capable of getting them to deliver. The biggest difference I've found between them are that I get a closer shave from the J Nat honed razor, but I have to watch the angle more closely, because if I use a angle that's too steep I easily get razorburn and the razor will feel like it's tugging.

    There have been some members who have reported that they have followed higher grit hones with the coticule just to smooth out the edge, which seems like you are doing now, so the coticule is doing something.

    A couple of questions:

    - are you sure your blade angle wasn't to steep?
    - did you get any razorburn?
    - did you experience any decrease in sharpness level during the wtg or xtg passes with the razor?

  3. #3
    Coticule researcher
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    1,872
    Thanked: 1212

    Default

    In my experience, a Coticule, when used with water, adds a kind of "forgiveness" to almost any edge, without affecting the sharpness much, if at all. That is a double statement: the Coticule, when used in that fashion, is not going to take away the keenness of a very sharp edge. But, at the same time, it is also not going to boost the keenness of a less sharp edge. With water, Coticules are really almost 100% finishing hones, they smooth out peaks of a givven scratch pattern and then stop doing much of anything.
    With my Nakayama, I have another experience. It does leave a very smooth edge, atlhough I personallylike a Coticule finished edge better, but the Nakayama (also with plain water) is capable of doing something the Coticule (with water) doesn't. It has the power to add to the keenness of the edge.
    So you gave your already keen edge the Coticule feel that your face likes. But that doesn't necessarily mean you could have got there without Gugi's hones and experience.

    By the way: Bjorn poses a few important questions, that might explain why you prefer the forgiving edge left by a Coticule.

    Bart.

  4. #4
    Neat Freak Stuggi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Jakobstad, Finland
    Posts
    279
    Thanked: 21

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bjorn View Post
    This seems a little strange, as I have both a coticule and a Japanese Natural and they really don't compare regarding the sharpness level I'm capable of getting them to deliver. The biggest difference I've found between them are that I get a closer shave from the J Nat honed razor, but I have to watch the angle more closely, because if I use a angle that's too steep I easily get razorburn and the razor will feel like it's tugging.

    There have been some members who have reported that they have followed higher grit hones with the coticule just to smooth out the edge, which seems like you are doing now, so the coticule is doing something.

    A couple of questions:

    - are you sure your blade angle wasn't to steep?
    - did you get any razorburn?
    - did you experience any decrease in sharpness level during the wtg or xtg passes with the razor?
    Well, I did everything as I did with my Dovo, and I did get some razor-burn, but I was in a hurry... The WTG pass felt a bit smoother than the Dovo, like it wasn't cutting as well as the Dovo...
    I usually go very flat on the ATG, like just a little bit over the spine touching the skin...
    I'm wondering if this isn't just me imagining things, I need to hone it some more today and see how it shaves on Friday, tomorrows the Dovo's turn...


    I'm quite perplexed now...

  5. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    We all have different beards and if the razor was honed and shave tested by one person it might be fine for him but lacking for someone else. I also think of the much stated fact that some razors respond better to one type of hone then to another.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  6. #6
    Neat Freak Stuggi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Jakobstad, Finland
    Posts
    279
    Thanked: 21

    Default

    Okay, I'm gonna withdraw my earlier statements and conclusions since I had a "Ohmygoosh, I don't have a f**king clue at all do I!!!"-experience today when I had a silky smooth shave from my new-to-me DE, a Gillette #58 with a Swede in it. No tugging on WTG and XTG, a bit more tugging on the ATG compared to the Dovo, but still more comfortable, the DE doesn't take of 3 layers of skin as it shaves...

    I'm gonna get myself some more hones after the next paycheck comes and do this properly, and I will not stop shaving with a straight, but I'm gonna throw it into my rotation every other or third day, just to give my face a well-deserved rest (I still don't wanna go without shaving every day, love it too much!)

  7. #7
    There is no charge for Awesomeness Jimbo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Maleny, Australia
    Posts
    7,977
    Thanked: 1587
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    I have noticed, especially with hollows, that edges from straight off my Nakayama often need to be stropped between passes first shave round. I have not really figured out why yet, although I guess I have hypotheses, but it seems a common phenomenon for me.

    Did you strop your razor after you felt it tug on the ATG stroke?

    James.
    Last edited by Jimbo; 02-06-2009 at 08:52 PM.
    <This signature intentionally left blank>

  8. #8
    Senior Member blabbermouth hi_bud_gl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    4,521
    Thanked: 1636

    Default Stuggi

    Quote Originally Posted by Stuggi View Post
    Okay, I'm gonna withdraw my earlier statements and conclusions since I had a "Ohmygoosh, I don't have a f**king clue at all do I!!!"-experience today

    Stuggi Please pay attention to the language you use.
    you had experience and post message have patience and read responses .It will be different ideas but people in this group trying to help each other that is all.
    good luck

  9. #9
    zib
    zib is offline
    Hell Razor zib's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Jacksonville, Fl.
    Posts
    5,348
    Thanked: 1217
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Have you tried maybe using some Crox after the Coticule or maybe a C12k. I find when I use my C12K, followed by some Cro2, My razors shave so smoothly and absolutely no irritation. Again, Everyone's beard is different. This is what works for me.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Howard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    686
    Thanked: 118

    Default

    Do what works for you and your beard! You'll hear a lot of opinions and hype about all kinds of things. What works on your beard and your face is reality.

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to Howard For This Useful Post:

    PA23-250 (02-16-2010)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •