Thread: New coticule - to unicot or not to unicot?

Well... this is weird, now that I think about it; I was shopping for a Norton 4k/8k combo and wound up buying a coticule. I felt it was too good a deal to pass up.

Now the dilemma is this: should I just hold on to it and use it as a finisher, after I save up a little to get the Norton or should I try the unicot method?

I must admit that it's killing me to have it sitting here and not using it, and I have at least ten razors I could try it on, plus three chinese ones that I could practice on, but I'm unsure if trying this would be the right way to start honing.

Your thoughts are encouraged and appreciated.

And since I'm asking... can one use the backing stone too? It looks like it would be fine honing with it, but I haven't seen it mentioned as a 'usable' surface.

Thanks for your time.

Of course, go ahead and USE it. If you can't get them sharp, then you've lost nothing. You need to practice the stroke to develop the muscle memory to consistently keep the blade flat on the hone, and you can develop this on the coticule as well as on any other hone.

Go for it!

Congratulations on your new purchase!

Yes, why not?
I would try out all three major uses for it, now that you have it.
Both used as a finisher, the Dilucot and the Unicot method.

I have been playing around with them for a while, and it has been a fun and educational experience.
The backing of your stone is most likely slate. Not usable for honing!
If the stone you have bought is a natural combo, that is with a Belgian Blue side, you can absolutely use that too.
Do you know what layer it is?

I know many people love their Coticules, but I feel I must tell you that there is a learning curve to it.
Especially the Dilucot method.
It's considered easier to learn to hone on a synthetic system like the Naniwas or similar.
But hey, now you have it, so try away, I'd say

Well, gentlemen, that is all the validation I need.

Thank you for the encouragement. To the stone!

(all this in what I believe is a record 14 minutes. Not too shabby. Not at all.)

As others have said there is no harm in giving it a try.

Work up a slurry on the stone the consistency of milk and every 10-15 x strokes dilute with a bit of water. Keep on going until your at plain water and do some more laps like that. If you feel like it's not sharp enough add a layer of tape and make a very light slurry and dilute to water again.

After that you most likely have a sharp blade. There is a learning curve to the stones so it might take a bit of time to play with sets and dilutions.

If you do use it after the 8k a light slurry until plain water will work just the same.

Took the plunge.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...tml#post779886

Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Snake, Screw up that reptilian courage, read up on the methods and give it a go. If it's a combo stone, try the BBW side too. Since trying a couple, I set bevels on other stones, but for everything up to finishing, I like the coti best so far. Yes, there's a learning curve. There's a curve to other stones too. Finishing, I'm still struggling. A few times the coti finish rivaled the jnat, but not as easily or consistently - so sometimes I switch to the jnat. You'll probably like the coti alot.

(don't ask Utopian how many he has

Unicot is a bullet proof edge. its so easy to learn. keep at it and you will see. It sounds like you just need to practice. If your doing unicot , make sure your tape is.15mm and good quality tape. Get a good bevel that shaves arm hair easily. then add tape and go steady with 30 light laps on misty slurry. then 60 on fresh water. linen /leather. as some one said tilt your slurry stone and rub up and down your coticule. then ajust your slurry and keep it milky don't let it get any dryer or denser. read up on coticule.be in the sharpening acadamey. This explain unicot to a tee. Once you masterd unicot. then try dilucot , if that fails you just add unicot edge ad your there.

You may also need a 1k for bevel work if your coticule is slower with slurry. As your a beginner i would grab your self a 6x21200dmt. then go to coticule as you have . If your experianced enough you could use a fast coticule . I still would get a 1k manmade hone . i've heard the 1k kings are great , i use 1200 /600 duo dmt.

gary

Originally Posted by gary haywood

Unicot is a bullet proof edge. its so easy to learn. keep at it and you will see. It sounds like you just need to practice. If your doing unicot , make sure your tape is.15mm and good quality tape. Get a good bevel that shaves arm hair easily. then add tape and go steady with 30 light laps on misty slurry. then 60 on fresh water. linen /leather. as some one said tilt your slurry stone and rub up and down your coticule. then ajust your slurry and keep it milky don't let it get any dryer or denser. read up on coticule.be in the sharpening acadamey. This explain unicot to a tee. Once you masterd unicot. then try dilucot , if that fails you just add unicot edge ad your there.

You may also need a 1k for bevel work if your coticule is slower with slurry. As your a beginner i would grab your self a 6x21200dmt. then go to coticule as you have . If your experianced enough you could use a fast coticule . I still would get a 1k manmade hone . i've heard the 1k kings are great , i use 1200 /600 duo dmt.

gary

+1

Coticule is very nice and fun stone for use. So, just practice and you will never need another stone.

I also use a coticule, and i'd told you you should try the Dilucot instead of the unicot... You can find this method on www.coticule.be, in the razor sharping academy.

You won't use any tape, will get a better bevel, and a better edge when mastered.

I think, IMHO, that a decent razor should never meet tape, and a decent honer should never use tape, to keep the correct angle on your edge, and keep you razor longer...