Thread: coticule question (theoretical)

If you've got a brand-new Lynn-honed premium razor, could you keep it sharp forever with a few occasional laps on a Belgian yellow?

Or will it eventually dull to the point where you'd need a 4K/8K (or a blue) to re-establish the bevel?

You probably could, but I give all of my razors a couple of 1-5s on the Norton for good luck and then about 20 on my tiny coticule (I'd do 10 if I had an 3x8 monstrosity). Since my rotation will get into the double digits within the next week or so, this won't hurt'em in the long run since I will be honing every 3 months or so and not doing full pyramids anyways.

However, I don't see why you couldn't by just using the coticule. What else would they have been doing before we got the Norton 4/8k?

Well I,'ll tell you I have a coticule 3x8 and for all my razors in my rotation its all I ever use. The Norton is only used for new acquisitions.

I also have to say I always hear people say it only takes a few trips on it to keep the razor up to snuff but for me its usually 30 trips on the coticule. Maybe I have a really light touch or something but to do 5 trips like some say it does nothing for me its always multiples of 30.

Thanks bigspendur, that's interesting and I guess that's sorta what I was getting at. Many here seem to use the Norton, but then many here are into restoring and collecting. If you take in a single virgin razor and enter ino happy monogamy, and you admire but don't partake in the curatorial arts of restoring and collecting, but ARE into being self-sufficient and want to take pride in not having to send your razor out for resharpening, can you get by - forever, so to speak - with just a good strop and a good coticule?

It's an attactive idea to me.

I'm sorry for all the dumb questions, but the answers are really chipping away at my ignorance.

I've been 'on' to the coticule for a few days now. I've found one for sale via google at a non-shave related site. I don't even know how coticules look like and was not sure the stone I was looking at was adequit(sp) for honing a straight edge.

Any vendor links would be helpful. I read a lot and learn a lot, but often the circular reading doesn't answer my premise questions.


UPDATE (It seems to be easier to find answers after I ask <grin>

I think I know the answer: Cost. I found this site:
http://www.theperfectedge.com/

The yellow and blue colicules there appear suitable for straight edge razors

$175 for a yellow is steep.

It reads it is 8000 grit. I was under the impression it would be higher grit (like 10,000-12,000). At this point I assume it has a nicer 8000 grit then a norton, or lasts longer, is plump full of pride, or all of the above.

You'll never learn if you don't ask questions. That+listening are the best combination-cure for ignorance. As I was looking at some older threads I came across one where I was asking whether I could condition a strop with lard lol. Here's what a coticule looks like: http://www.winkelplein.nl/barbershop...UXF5VjywXhtzUT on sale from a Dutch vendor. It's a pale yellowish stone, usually adhered to a coarser grit slate backing which I never use.
If you come across a good one, it will give you a finer edge than Norton 8000, but not as fine as a paddle strop with abrasive pastes 1 micron or finer. You also need a rubbing stone for it to generate a slurry before you start honing on it. Even with the slurry it's a slow cutter, so if you're restoring blades, you still need to get the Norton 4k/8k and even the 220/1k.

All I use is my coticule. I don't really need anything else. Or haven't soo far.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

You'll never learn if you don't ask questions. That+listening are the best combination-cure for ignorance. As I was looking at some older threads I came across one where I was asking whether I could condition a strop with lard lol.

haha, I remember that one X also used olive oil at that time

Nenad

A Belgian stone with two natural sides is what you will need.
Do not purchase the stone with a black side. You want either the brown/blue/purple speckled side for the coarse side and the tan/cream/yellow for the fine side. With that stone you would be able to maintain your razor indefinitely.

Both of the sides need to be used with a slurry so be sure and purchase a 2 sided slurry stone or a naugura stone.

Hope this helps,

The natural stones as Randy suggests are really nice. On newer stones these are quarried where the yellow and blue veins run together and there is a natural seam between the two. Be aware you may pay a premium for these.
I have found a few vintage stones were the stone was bonded, like many modern one, except instead of the yellow coticule being bonded to slate it was bonded to a piece of the blue Belgian whetstone. These work very well too but again are not easy to find.
The quarry also make a product where they bond a yellow coticule to a white arkansas stone to give you the coarse/fine combo.


The Thuringens are getting closer to reality. I have sources now for two different Escher based stones from Germany and will likely have something in stock by early October. These will be best used after a Norton and before pasted strops (if you feel the need for a even finer edge). These will be similar in grit to the finest barber hones and maybe a little finer than the Coticule depending on which quarry they come from.

Best,
Tony