Thread: Coticule Frustrations.

I've been working pretty hard to achieve a good dilucot edge with my coti, but don't seem to be having much luck.

Used on it's own, I can't develop enough keenness to get a comfortable shave.

I've tried it all: followed the dilucot directions to a "T", tried again, tried the unicot method, tried the BBW side and finished on the coti with water, I've tried lather and extra stokes. Everything I've read about or been told to try.

If nothing, my edges are coming out consistent. They all seem to be in the same range of keenness.

The most success I've had yet is to follow my progression through on synthetics, and then tone the edge down with 20 or 30 strokes on the coti.

Other than meeting the challenge of using just the single stone to achieve a shave-able edge, I don't have any objection to using other stones, but I do think that a coti edge is the best for my face and beard as any hint of irritation and in-growns have disappeared since I've started using it. My aftershave splash has become kinda boring, to be honest, with out any irritation to set on fire, I might as well be using water.

So I guess I'm looking for any tips or pointers I can find, and wondering if a "mellow" edge just isn't enough for my stubborn whiskers.
Any pointers would be welcome!

Kind regards,

Well i am not sure if this helps but here goes.

I have only been using said corticule and it is a little hit and miss, i king of end up doing a pseudo pyramid honing I guess, and it took me a few times to get to know my stone, this was an important tip when I got it, they all cut slightly different and the guy told me to use it exclusively and you will get to know the murkiness of each slurry and how it cuts.

I will explain.

I make a thick slurry using the “rubber”, very milky

I do maybe 10 strokes on that normally with a finger positioned on the far end of the blade lightly to maintain blade contact front and back, I dilute a bit and maybe do 10-20 passes, I then test to shave arm or wrist hair. If its not shaving well I repeat the above two stages again, when it starts shaving very easily (not hair popping) I dilute arbitrarily to do a few light strokes, the just fresh water for 10, 20, 30 strokes? Testing on the arm hair a little, when its nice and keen, I am done, not to be tempted to try a few more only to lift the back in a lapse of concentration!

I then do a canvas 50 strops, and leather maybe 50.

That’s it, the blades don’t always pop hair for me as my hair on my head is apparently exceptionally thick and strong (seriously a barber told on more than one occasion, but will if I try to pop it closer to the my fingers and were I am holding the hair.

For me it cuts through my bearded like butter now I have the angle about right most of the time. My beard is dark, course, and thick.

Then only a bit of stropping and I have not really had to hone for at least a month now.

My rotation is a a Dovo full hollow special and two Joseph Rs and sons wedges (although they have slight hollowing foe easy honing apparently) I prefer the wedge razors for some reason.

Originally Posted by wdwrx

I've been working pretty hard to achieve a good dilucot edge with my coti, but don't seem to be having much luck.

Used on it's own, I can't develop enough keenness to get a comfortable shave.

I've tried it all: followed the dilucot directions to a "T", tried again, tried the unicot method, tried the BBW side and finished on the coti with water, I've tried lather and extra stokes. Everything I've read about or been told to try.

If nothing, my edges are coming out consistent. They all seem to be in the same range of keenness.

The most success I've had yet is to follow my progression through on synthetics, and then tone the edge down with 20 or 30 strokes on the coti.

Other than meeting the challenge of using just the single stone to achieve a shave-able edge, I don't have any objection to using other stones, but I do think that a coti edge is the best for my face and beard as any hint of irritation and in-growns have disappeared since I've started using it. My aftershave splash has become kinda boring, to be honest, with out any irritation to set on fire, I might as well be using water.

So I guess I'm looking for any tips or pointers I can find, and wondering if a "mellow" edge just isn't enough for my stubborn whiskers.
Any pointers would be welcome!

Kind regards,

Make sure you have right coticule.
they are natural stones and grits are varies.
if you do you shouldn't have any trouble getting smooth shave of off coticule.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Make sure you have right coticule...

I'm slowly coming to the realization that it might not be the right one....
That I can consistently get the same quality edges again and again on different razors tells me I'm probably getting what I can out of it. Even unicot edges don't offer much improvement.
The fact that even with my lightest strokes it very obviously dulls the edge somewhat after synthetics also supports that idea, at least in my mind.

After playing around with the BBW side, I am almost convinced that that side provides a keener edge than the coti side. I might try shaving with a blade coming off the BBW side yet.

Keep in mind, I don't discount the idea that it's my honing itself that may be the problem, but I'm at a loss to figure out exactly what to change or how to improve. Not saying I can't improve, I just don't know how. My same honing stroke and skill can put a pretty fine edge using other stones; I can put edges on my blades that exceed my ability to use comfortably. I'm kinda sick and tired of blaming myself for the lack of success with my coti when i can obviously achieve successful edges with my thurry, or any of my other stones. Really, if all I can do is a mediocre edge with 200 or 300 laps on my coti, I might as well dust off The People's Hone and use that again, at least it would be faster.

It is not uncommon that the BBW side will provide more keenness but IME if you keep working with the stone you will begin to have good results. Getting to know your particular stone and the nuances of honing with it is part of the trip. IME.

Thanks Jimmy.
I've just become a little frustrated, I guess. I've certainly plataued at this point, and I'm not sure if it's me or the stone since it's the only coti I've ever tried. It's the not knowing that's driving me nuts; is it me?... or the stone?...me?... the stone?...

I guess there's only one solution at this point.... another coti! (1/2 kidding...)
I'll keep practicing, and I've found lather on the stone seems to help so I'll keep with that for now, and keep going for lighter and lighter strokes.

Originally Posted by wdwrx

I'm slowly coming to the realization that it might not be the right one....
That I can consistently get the same quality edges again and again on different razors tells me I'm probably getting what I can out of it. .

Above words are Gold.
You will not get more or less from the any stone.
they have curtain capabilities . when you rich that point that is it.
it is not just coitcules every single natural hone will act similar way.
You could make 100-400 laps just with water and see it may improve a little more.
Then you done your job.
if you want to cover shipping charges i am willing to test your stone(if you are in usa) and let you know about it.
hope this helps.

Is it the arrow or is it the Indian ?

How quickly does the slurry turn black/grey with heavy slurry, if at all?
Perhaps post a few pics of the coti and possibly some of us may have a comparable stone, perhaps not - they are all extremely different. What size is yours?

I have 2, I used to have a third, a green one which I found was too slow to be anything other than a finisher, so I sold it as a favour - though it produced a great edge amongst cotis, it didnt get on with my Escher and my Charnley so out it went!

I should note that although the green combo was very slow, I was still able to achieve dilucot on it with the assistance of the BBW- it was ludicrously slow in comparison to my other 2.

Here's a pic just to show the difference -they all have very different properties and all feel quite different to hone on (although their blue sides are virtually the same)
[ATTACH][/ATTACH]




AND NEWBIES TO HONING - when the OP says he does not know whether this is him or the stone, this is exactly why I recommend the Nani 3/8 or Norton 4/8 as a BEGINNER hone. If you're enchanted by the coti, get it afterwards!

When I got my coti I felt the same. I was always frustrated that I was not able to get the nest out of my stone.

I kept at it tho and I realized less strokes on my stone did better for my razor than more.

Whenever I touch up my razor I take the stone an wet it down quite a bit and do 10 laps and my razor treetops hairs perfectly for me.

If I want to do more work I build a really thick slurry and do ten laps and then add a finger of water and repeat until it's just water. I rinse off h blade and stone and do 10-20 laps strop and I'm done.

Now I'm sure others can get better edges but I've found that this razor and honing method works best for me.