Thread: Coticule HELP!!

So I am pretty new to honing straight razors, but have experience with lots of woodworking tools. I will usually set a bevel on a 1k and work my way up to the 8k. When I go to the coticule to polish I cannot get the stone to do anything for me. I know it is possible to set the bevel and finish all on the coticule so I want to know what I am doing wrong.

When using the coticule to set a bevel, should you have real thick slurry? almost paste like slurry rather than a watery slurry?

When finishing on the coticule for polish, should there be any slurry at all? or just water?

Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by bwatte

So I am pretty new to honing straight razors, but have experience with lots of woodworking tools. I will usually set a bevel on a 1k and work my way up to the 8k. When I go to the coticule to polish I cannot get the stone to do anything for me. I know it is possible to set the bevel and finish all on the coticule so I want to know what I am doing wrong.

When using the coticule to set a bevel, should you have real thick slurry? almost paste like slurry rather than a watery slurry?

When finishing on the coticule for polish, should there be any slurry at all? or just water?

Thanks in advance

There are a lot of variables involved in honing with a coticule. For a good start to answer your questions, visit The Sharpening Academy @ Coticule.be. Bart has done a great job at developing a systematic approach to using a Coticule.

The short answer is that yes, you'd use a bit of a thicker slurry along with circles or half strokes to set the bevel, and progress with less and less slurry, finally finishing on water only to get that finished edge.

+1 to richmondesi.

Check out Bart's wonderful site...should be everything you need to know about a Coticule there

Yes thank you, I will look into the site a little bit more. One more thing, when going to the coticule off the 8k norton, do you start off with a light slurry before the final polishing with only water? Either way, appx. how many strokes do you use on the coticule after the 8k, with or without slurry?

Originally Posted by bwatte

Yes thank you, I will look into the site a little bit more. One more thing, when going to the coticule off the 8k norton, do you start off with a light slurry before the final polishing with only water? Either way, appx. how many strokes do you use on the coticule after the 8k, with or without slurry?

After the 8k Norton? I think I would just use water, no slurry at all. As to how many strokes, I can't answer that. Depends on the razor (wedge, full hollow, etc) and also the condition the edge is in.

I know it doesn't help, but if I had to give an answer as to how many laps I would have to say: "Until it shaves well."

Wish I could be of more help with that

the bevel will be gleaming after 8k norton after coticule does'nt produce such a shiny bevel. i've used nortons and coticules. if honed corectly on 4k/8k you will get a great shave. the coticule should only be used with water as slurry can have a dulling efect if to dense you could rub your coticule twice only to produce the finest slurry diluted with water and do say 50 laps and a further 75 on plain water that should create a nice freindly edge not much sharper but a little more comfortable.

If you're finishing after the 8K, you do not want slurry @ that stage. Due to the shape of the garnets tumbling around in the slurry, they will actually eat away at the very edge of the bevel, dulling it. (This is also why it's impossible to overhone on a coticule w/ slurry--the garnets will eat the wire edge before it forms.) The only time you really want slurry is if you're doing an all-in-one honing method (Bart's website is the best place for info if you want to try that--it's fun & he's a coticule expert).

If you're using it as a finisher, you only want water. Try 30 light x-strokes after the 8K & see if that works. The exact lap count will depend on the speed of your coticule (they're all different), but 30 should usually be plenty for finishing. You could also test shave off the 8K 1st & then go to the coticule so you can feel the difference.

Originally Posted by bwatte

So I am pretty new to honing straight razors, but have experience with lots of woodworking tools. I will usually set a bevel on a 1k and work my way up to the 8k. When I go to the coticule to polish I cannot get the stone to do anything for me.

I presume you're talking about honing a razor here as I have no experience with woodworking tools.
So, what exactly do you expect the coticule to do? Can you describe the edge at this point (apparently it doesn't matter before or after the coticule)?

Originally Posted by bwatte

I know it is possible to set the bevel and finish all on the coticule so I want to know what I am doing wrong.

I thought you were using a 1k hone for that. Could you elaborate on exactly what are you doing?

At this point, all I am doing is using the coticule for polishing after the 8k. I am not getting the polished edge I am looking for.

Am I not doing enough strokes? should I start with a light slurry and then thin out until I am using water only?

What I meant by saying the coticule can be used for establishing a bevel all the way up to polishing, I was just trying to say that the coticule is a very versatile stone "IF" you know how to use it. Obviously I am not using the stone the correct way.

You can go straight off of the 8k with water only. Could you describe your issues because it may be that more work needs to be done on lower stones before progressing to the Coticule