Thread: Why do I need a Coticle?

Originally Posted by Scipio

And as Glen advises where an earlier reply wrongly said it will provide nothing other than a bridge between 1 and 12K; it is an alternative finisher to some razors such as those comprised of Sheffield Steel. For some reason I have also found that many Sheffields take a better finish with a coticule, where a finer synthetic will not give said finish.

What is wrong about that statement?A Coticule can be exactly that a bridge to 12k and perfectly capable to take on 1k edge. You know very well people use them for bevel setting to finishing if one likes Coticule edge. I find it to be inferior to 12k SS edge.

Originally Posted by mainaman

What is wrong about that statement?A Coticule can be exactly that a bridge to 12k and perfectly capable to take on 1k edge. You know very well people use them for bevel setting to finishing if one likes Coticule edge. I find it to be inferior to 12k SS edge.

I agree with that from my own experience. Taking it a step further, I also find it 'inferior' to a 1k synthetic in bevel setting. Not that people don't use it for that, but from the point of view of efficacy, it is just more work than it is worth AFAIC. YMMV. As a mid range up to and including finishing I like it ..... if I feel like shaving with what I find to be the typical edge from my coticules. Comfortable, forgiving, not as crisp as say an Escher or a 12k SS ...... again, this is IME with my coticules, YMMV.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I agree with that from my own experience. Taking it a step further, I also find it 'inferior' to a 1k synthetic in bevel setting. Not that people don't use it for that, but from the point of view of efficacy, it is just more work than it is worth AFAIC. YMMV. As a mid range up to and including finishing I like it ..... if I feel like shaving with what I find to be the typical edge from my coticules. Comfortable, forgiving, not as crisp as say an Escher or a 12k SS ...... again, this is IME with my coticules, YMMV.

Jimmy that is why I said it can bridge the 1k-12k gap, I would never use a Coticule for bevel setting because there are much faster stones for that, but it can very well take on 1k edge and take it way high in the smoothness scale.

I second what Pink added, for what it is worth. As has been stated a Coti should not cost the price that you mentioned, a J-Nat will. If you are getting a coticule for the experience why not get a finishing J-Nat and get both the experience and take the 12K edge you are getting to a new level? Just a though.

The only thing a Coticle did for me was make me aware of the feel and feedback of a natural stone and I wanted more. I ended up selling the Coticule and buy a finishing Asigi and have never looked back. There is a ton of information on J-Nats on the forum and there are people that will help you with your knowledge base. Sometimes it is confusing but there are vendors that can help, a lot. I wish JNS was going full strength when I started with Naturals (JapaneseNaturalStones). I have seen some very nice stones come from him at a very reasonable price, comparatively speaking.


Take Care,
Richard

Read what I wrote. "The nothing other", was the wrong part, not that people can use them as a bridge. My opinion of doing so is a different matter.

I have been working the coticules only; I sold my Nortons since they weren't getting used. I have a Naniwa 2K for setting the bevel and several coticules. I have been working two of them pretty good. The La Dressante is HARD and smooth. It won't slurry very much, but with donor slurry, it cuts fast; it's more of a high-end polisher with water. The La Grise is SOFT and smooth. I'm amazed at the difference between the two stones. This one will slurry quick, but you have to use just a small amount - real small. Too much slurry and it dulls the blade; one or two passes of the slurry stone makes more than enough slurry which gets diluted and continues to get diluted. This stone sharpens very nicely if you respect the slurry.

I know that I don't reach full potential of the blade with coticules, but I enjoy working the stones and seeing how different techniques and different slurries work. Coticules do leave a smooth edge which inspires confidence in shaving.