Thread: Shaving Straight off the Rock

I use a DMT E, BBW, and Coti progression on my razors, and love the edges that I'm getting-- to me, it's an even more comfortable edge than when finished on CrOx. The key to success, IMO, is making sure to use a very, very light touch when you move to the coticule. It took me a long time to exert enough self-control in order to do this, but it is well worth the results. Good luck.

Originally Posted by woodsmandave

I do not intend to get any more hones (unless a particularly special coticule crosses my path at the right price)

I've had my norton 1/4 from the beginning, and use to have a kitayama as a finishing hone, but promptly sold it once I got my coticule. Now, I use the coticule after the 4k side of the norton. So, My coticule has to take a 4k edge to shave ready. I don't think that's too much to ask of it, and though it may be trickier than, say, a naniwa 12k, I would prefer not to spend more money on a hone to fill the gap (the gap being an inability to use the coticule to its full potential)
Instead of buying yet another 8k, I'll just turn back to the diamond spray if I have to (but the point of this thread was that I don't want to)

you will need more than coticule if you want to get to the point where you want to be. You will need to add a finer stone such as you already have or a Jnat or something else, the issue here is they also vary in quality. For your particular case of hit and miss, the best way to go about it is to have a way to calibrate your edges, this is easily done with an 8k or 12k stone. Once you get consistent edges off one of those stones you will be able to figure out if your finishing stone is up to par or you need a better quality one.

i guess shaving off the 4k stone really puts it in perspective. I wonder if I'm not using the 4k to it's full potential before moving to the coti...

I suppose it is possible that I am not completely maximizing the 1/4 norton before moving up.

I'll check out the one stone honing stuff to see if I can gain any more insight, thanks.

Originally Posted by woodsmandave

i guess shaving off the 4k stone really puts it in perspective. I wonder if I'm not using the 4k to it's full potential before moving to the coti...

I suppose it is possible that I am not completely maximizing the 1/4 norton before moving up.

I'll check out the one stone honing stuff to see if I can gain any more insight, thanks.

for me the question is if the coticule is good enough, in my experience they vary in what kind of edge can you get.

chay2k, Why would you be using a Belgian Blue before your Coti? From my understanding, BBW has 20-30% garnet crystals, while the coti has 30-40% garnet crystals. The garnet crystals are the same size in both, the only difference is that the coti cuts faster with slurry because it has a higher quantity of crystals in it.

Mine is a select grade coticule, very creamy yellow. I have no reference point if it is a low or high quality stone.

In an ideal situation, where money was not an option, I would buy an 8k as a reference point. At the moment, I'm going to have to put this advice in action. I think I'm going to start with Glen's suggestion that I'm lacking in the 8k range. That makes the most sense to me as a starting point for identifying the issue. That would necessitate more time on the coticule with slurry for me. Thinking back, I usually thin the slurry out before I get to 20 laps on it, then do 20-30 laps, then 50 or so with water.

correction: I intend to try to correct my "8k lacking" by adjusting my slurry content. If I can't fix the problem with that, I'm going to the unicot method. If that doesn't work, I'm going to the hammer and sell the slurry stones for $20 a piece

There is also what we so fondly call the YMMV factor...

Each persons face is going to have this perfect combination of razor, size, grind, and steel combined with the perfect honing system to achieve that special Whoa!!!!! shave...

Inevitably when someone gets it they forget all the other trials and tribulations they went though to achieve it

Perhaps and this is just because I am one of these people, the Coticule is not "your" stone, I know my Coticule works because when I use it on certain razors my customers love it, but for my face it is just a "good" stone..

Myself, I like edges that are so freaky sharp they make you hesitate before committing to placing it on your face.. Give me an extreme hollow grind NY made razor off the Shapton 30k or a Kamisori off of my Nakayama and we are talking Whoa !!! (I use a pasted strop of some kind on every razor)

So never Discount the YMMV factor and perhaps why you like the pasted strop is you like a sharper edge than the Coticule is capable of...

Originally Posted by woodsmandave

Do you know of a place where I can buy a linen only strop?

No. Purchasing advice is beyond my mentition skills anyway Get a clean linen though, you will be glad you did. Stropping is king