Thread: My first honing on coticule

That's what I mean, the marker was gone on the very edge except on the toe on one side. Evident I am lifting. I am putting my finger on it but have this fear of slicing myself. lol. I think I need to spend more time watching videos of people honing too. Have a refresher course. That, and keep practicing. I find this fun and relaxing for sure. I can see why so many enjoy it.

Knowing about this lifting habit has me questioning my stropping now.

Reading this thread reminds me why people should not start to learn honing on coticule, its not an easy hone to start with.
I'd go for a nice old fashioned Norton set to learn the strokes and develop muscle memory, and then move to more sophisticated hones.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Reading this thread reminds me why people should not start to learn honing on coticule, its not an easy hone to start with.
I'd go for a nice old fashioned Norton set to learn the strokes and develop muscle memory, and then move to more sophisticated hones.

You're not the first to say that and I respect your opinion. That said, I do not own other hones at the moment.

My question is; WHY learn on Nortons? Or any synthetic for that matter? Just using Norton as an example because that is what you said.

Is it the fact that they produce faster results? Is that the only benefit of learning on something else? Or are there other reasons?

If just speed, what is wrong with learning slowly or going slowly? Do you find people develop bad habits during this slow process or they get frustrated and rush it or what?

The difference is this: from a dull razor.... this all assumes you can do a proper stroke

Norton 1k do 20 circles using heavy pressure per side
do 20 circles per side using medium pressure
do TNT does it grab all the down the edge No??? Repeat the last step Yes?
do 20 laps light pressure

4k do 20 laps light pressure check arm hair test does it pass NO??? Repeat last step Yes go to 8k

8k Do 20 laps do TPT does it get really sticky??? NO??? Repeat last step
Yes??? Strop and test shave


Or follow the Pyramid method...


See we know the quantity and quality of the stones, we can answer every question with exact info.. Same with Naniwas and Shaptons

But with the Naturals (not just the Coticule) we don't really know what you have there.... We have to guess, we have to make even more assumptions then we normally do with trying to help people learn this, on the internet...
Now if we were sitting at the same table then all this that I just typed doesn't matter one bit...


You know how we always give advice about getting your first razor Professionally shave ready, to eliminate one variable form the equation for learning to shave???? same principal here...There is nothing bad or good regarding the method or the stone there are just more variables to overcome..

Well said, Glen. Makes sense to me.

lets hope this will answer to your questions.

Originally Posted by rickboone

My question is; WHY learn on Nortons? Or any synthetic for that matter? Just using Norton as an example because that is what you said.

Code:

Because you are getting constant results

Is it the fact that they produce faster results?

no

Is that the only benefit of learning on something else? Or are there other reasons?

If just speed, what is wrong with learning slowly or going slowly? Do you find people develop bad habits during this slow process or they get frustrated and rush it or what?

They get frustrated and takes too long time them to find out their edge is not the right edge shave with it. Don't get me wrong there is a nice coticules out there and took me 6 years to get one . I don't know how long will take you to get right coticule. if you ask sellers in that case they may get you right one.

BTW what kind of razor is this??? and was it ever shaving for you in the past???

Originally Posted by gssixgun

BTW what kind of razor is this??? and was it ever shaving for you in the past???

It is a Genco. I've never shaved with it, no. I will get some pics up. It is one I picked up non shave ready and the razor closed slightly off center. It has been sitting around awaiting repair when I got a wild hair and decided to try my hand at honing last night.

With the synthetic (Norton and such) you remove ALOT of variables, everyone that has a norton 4k/8k knows what 4k and 8k another person has and uses. Natural stones are a pure variable no two are really alike, even ones cut from the same slab show variation. Thats why it's commonly said not to start with naturals, not that it's imposable or undoable. You have it so you may as well use it. But I bet you have also worn it down a bit already? Synthetics tend to be a quarter the price with fixed grits, making it easier to feel the difference between stones and feel how the razor acts on those stones.

There was a thread not long ago about everything on one coticule and it was ugly at times. All I'm saying is that it's not imposable to learn the way your doing it, it's just very hard and puts alot of wear on a stone that should last a few life times, not a few months...

Good choice of razor to start honing with, Genco's are normally very easy on the hones if there are even in sorta good shape... at least ya didn't say wedge

Get the pics up and maybe some of the guys that are really good with the method can talk you through yer first one...

Embrace the challenge brother we all did at one point in time !!!