Thread: Why do I need a Coticle?

Originally Posted by SirStropalot

To save a lot of posts and getting a lot of these http://straightrazorpalace.com/images/smilies/nono.gif, I know I don't need one, but I also don't need 24 razors, and growing. What I'm looking for is, what do I gain from one. I use Naniwa 1,3,5,8,10,12k on some razors and Norton combos on others and, all lapped with DMT and do touch up on a Franz Swaty sometimes. Also, rarely, but occasionally will call on the 12k Shapton. I'm getting good results, but what would a coticle bring to the table. Like most of us AD suffers, I'm always after that little extra if it actually makes a difference. Second part: With stones varying, even in the select grade, how do you get a good "razor" one without just rolling the $300 to $450 dice? Thanks in advance!!

Howard

With your set of man made hones you clearly do not need a coticule.

It is true that a coticule gives some people a smoother shave
but not all people. The magic of a coti is that you can hone
to almost any degree of finish. The garnets break down and
get finer and finer up to a point. Since the garnets are soft compared
to modern abrasives they interact with the steel differently. IMO they
end up smoothing it rather than cutting it.

Using a Na12k hone lightly once a month works better for me.

For +30 years I lived with three razors and one hone (a coti) and
when used gently much like a barber hone worked very well.
The Naniwa hones (to 12k) take the game to a new level and my coti
gets to see daylight on rare occasions.

From what I've read coticule garnet do not break down and become finer like jnat facets in slurry would. Matter of fact coticule garnets cut scoops from the razor edge which is why the results feel smoother to your face than say a synth finisher. This is also why when you hone on slurry with a coticule the garnets can cause slurry dulling to the razor, the particles are not becoming finer and finer like a japanese stone would. Therefore the wide plans of the garnet eventually hit the edge head on and dull it.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

With your set of man made hones you clearly do not need a coticule.

It is true that a coticule gives some people a smoother shave
but not all people. The magic of a coti is that you can hone
to almost any degree of finish. The garnets break down and
get finer and finer up to a point. Since the garnets are soft compared
to modern abrasives they interact with the steel differently. IMO they
end up smoothing it rather than cutting it.

Using a Na12k hone lightly once a month works better for me.

For +30 years I lived with three razors and one hone (a coti) and
when used gently much like a barber hone worked very well.
The Naniwa hones (to 12k) take the game to a new level and my coti
gets to see daylight on rare occasions.

Originally Posted by Disburden

From what I've read coticule garnet do not break down and become finer like jnat facets in slurry would. Matter of fact coticule garnets cut scoops from the razor edge which is why the results feel smoother to your face than say a synth finisher. This is also why when you hone on slurry with a coticule the garnets can cause slurry dulling to the razor, the particles are not becoming finer and finer like a japanese stone would. Therefore the wide plans of the garnet eventually hit the edge head on and dull it.

Yes, both... the near soccer ball shape of the garnets is part of the magic.
in part this is why the dilution methods work.

J-nats are another kettle of hones and techniques.