Thread: Yellow Coticule or combination

Assuming I use Bart's technique and set a double bevel...What happens when the razor no longer reacts to touch ups with plain water?

For me, one of the greatest advantages of the combo stone is its fantastic consistency. It is such a great and consistent performer. And I LOVE the bbw, it is the most underrated natural hone IMHO.

any comments?

I think a coti/bbw combo stone is the perfect honing stone. You can hone exclusively on the coticule using the dilucot or unicot methods, or use the BBW side. I like using the BBW side too, since it's an easy way to achieve the necessary keeness (used with light BBW slurry) before finishing on the coticule w/just water. You can totally get by on just the coticule, but my vote would be for the combo since it gives you more options.

As already made clear, you can use various procedures that include a Coticule in your honing.

You can use slurry on top for bevel correction. That easily handles the edges left by a DMT 600 grit. I wouldn't worry about buying anything less coarse if you own a Coticule. Sure a DMT 1200 might be faster than a Coticule for perfecting a bevel, IF that DMT has not seen a lot of use (they do slow down when the diamonds wear). Furthermore, a Coticule leaves a cleaner bevel intersection than the DMT 1200.

When used with water, a Coticule will give you an excellent finish. I believe that is a well established fact.

The challenging part is: how to get the edge off the Coticule with slurry keen enough for finishing on water.

There are several possibilities:

1. A Norton Pyramid. You know the one.

2. Progressing through 1 (or 2) synthetic hone(s) in subsequently finer grit.

3. Progressing through 1 (or 2) natural hone(s). A Belgian Blue Whetstone works well for this.

4. Diluting the slurry of the Coticule. Requires feeling and experience, but works well. And it take only one hone.

5. Apply an (additional) layer of tape to create a narrow secondary bevel that will take maximum keenness of the Coticule with water. Also takes only one hone.

All these procedures work well. Most of them can be translated to other natural hones. Which path to follow?
Beats me.

Bart.

Is the double bevel more durable than a regular one? Would you personally recommend buying a coticule or a combination? :P

Originally Posted by Dups

Do you use Bart's technique of adding a second layer of tape or? I like keeping my razor nice and new so I will add a layer of tape for sure...

I no you like honing with one layer of tape thats fine i will do dliucot which takes a little more practice . Lets just say i'm not happy with sharpness i will add layer of tape in your case you could another layer and do 50 laps on water and it realy does work my mates doing it quite often unicot method and he loves it and carn't believe how sharpe is razor is.Other than that if you like single bevel just add paste to reach keeness if your not quite there after dilucot method like bart says it takes feel and a little more experiance or loads of practice i use issarde pate that works realy well to up keeness.

So last advice guys, I'm about the pull the trigger...Coticule or Combination BBW Coticule?

Originally Posted by Dups

So last advice guys, I'm about the pull the trigger...Coticule or Combination BBW Coticule?

If you foresee yourself ever using the BBW, then the combo. But if you just want to use the coticule, then don't bother getting a combo. If you're not sure if you're going to use the BBW, just get a combo in case you decide to use the BBW. Totally your choice though.

Hey dave,

do you still use the BBW side of your stone or simple the Coticule?