Thread: Using a Belgian yellow coticule to its fullest?

After using a Belgian yellow coticule with a slurry, should you use the yellow with only water before you go to either the pasted strops or a 16K stone? Does the coticule with water only make the edge smoother or does it degrade anything and mess up the next progressions?

When would you use the yellow with only water?

Thanks!

There is quite a bit in the SRP Wiki (toolbar above on left) on honing techniques with the yellow coticule. I used to only use them with water following a Norton 4/8 or something similar. Then reading Bart's posts I began to use a slurry and following his suggestion diluting the slurry as I went until I was down to water only.

I sometimes use a BBW with slurry and use the same diluting technique and then go to the coticule side with water only. I have one coticule that I feel cuts fast with water only so how I approach it would also depend on the condition of the blade. Whether it is fairly sharp or if I am working with a dull edge that needs more then a light honing. The more you use your particular stone the more you'll find what works best for you with it. That is what is happening with me anyhow.

Originally Posted by Garrett

When would you use the yellow with only water?

Thanks!

When I have no soap? diluting the milk toward clean water w/soap and finally using a hanging strop rather than paddle made a world of difference

When I use the Coticule, I have gone to water only following the 8K and it produces a pretty nice polish on my edges. Normally though, I don't use more than 10-15 strokes on the Coticule. I do usually finish with a paste though to improve the smoothness of the shave.

Lynn

Hi Lynn,
finishing on paste you are actually sharpening, wouldn't you say, not just boosting the smoothness?

diamond on felt?

One thing I think about regarding coticules is the fact that barbers routinely used them to sharpen the razors that they shaved customers with daily.

Back in the 1980s I went into many a barber shop in North N.J. and asked the old fellows if they had any razors that they no longer used to sell. Many of them no longer offered shaves and most of them would pull out a drawer with a half dozen or more straights.

I also bought a few coticules from some of these fellows back then. Two were slate backed and one was a natural. I was told by more then one of these guys that the yellow side was the only side that worked and lather or water was the vehicle to use in honing. None of them mentioned slurry.

The fact that these guys used the yellow coticule to sharpen the razors they used day in and day out back when they did shave leads me to believe that the coticule with water only is effective in maintaing an edge. The slurry is good for enhancing the cutting power but finishing with the water only is the way to go.

I have done this and it works for me. I know the edge can be improved even more with the 16k or whatever for those that want to go above and beyond but I am just saying that a good yellow coticule is an effective tool by itself. I would rather have a a coarser grit to start with if I was setting bevels and/or restoring an ebay special but on an edge in good condition I find the yellow gives a comfortable shave. YMMV.

Have you tried using the coticule after hte 16k Jimmy?.In my own humble experience with using the coticule with water after the shapton 16k( about ten razors)I really think it makes a smoother edge.Guess it depends on the stone tough.

Kristoffer

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

Have you tried using the coticule after hte 16k Jimmy?.In my own humble experience with using the coticule with water after the shapton 16k( about ten razors)I really think it makes a smoother edge.Guess it depends on the stone tough.

Kristoffer

Not yet. I have tended to do all Shapton when using those or all natural when using the coticules or Eschers. I can't say that I haven't mixed them up in the past once I was past the 8k but if I was finishing it would be one or the other and done . I'll give that a try though and see how I like it.

I would say yes it's sharpening on both but very little. Much more for the effectiveness of the glide or smoothness.

Lynn

Originally Posted by kevint

Hi Lynn,
finishing on paste you are actually sharpening, wouldn't you say, not just boosting the smoothness?

diamond on felt?

When i first got my yellow i tryed to use with light slurry i shaved with razor and it was worse i could'nt believe it so i honed some more with slurry and it was worse my razor went from shaving to not shaving. I did 100 light passeas on water and stropped and razor was shaving as normal i did'nt realize slurry could dull my blade but as bart says with slurry the razor will be barley shavable and i found this. I now use blue light slurry and yellow water and i have no problems at all i finish 15 on 0.5 diamond paste and 15 on chr.5 and my razors are as good as you will get. maintanance your yellow will be fine. why not get a bbw a small one will be realy cheap .