Thread: Shaving Straight off the Rock

In addition to the info already provided, check out this thread, and the attached pdf file in Bart's initial post. I tried this with some of my razors, and I'm telling ya, I believe there is something to it!

http://www.coticule.be/the-cafeteria/topic/1452.html

If you are referring to the unicot method described here, I intend to try it during my next bout of honing. I recall doing something similar in the past, with mediocre results, but at the time I was very new to honing, on a mediocre stone, with mediocre face prep, and was just trying to figure out a way to get my razors sharper (I usually hone with 1 layer of tape, in an effort for a better edge, my 10-15 final passes were with 2 layers of tape - but at the time, I probably used slurry to finish because I didn't know any better (that and with the kitayama hone, the slurry supposedly is "different" and breaks down to a grit finer than the stone - I call BS)

As far as the BBW tests - those results seem to line up with all the wisdom provided by more experienced members here - it can do the same thing as a coticule, only slower, lol.

Originally Posted by woodsmandave

Glen, I have a romantic attachment to my coticule.

This is a very dangerous perspective! I fell in love with my first Coticule because of the feel and feedback was like no other stone that I had ever used. It was great, it would tell you if there was a spot on the edge that was not right. Once you reached a certain point the feel and sound of the razor on the stone just told you when the edge was right....... just like a quality J-Nat. I found that I could shave off the Asagi that I have and have a fantastic shave.....was I happy?.......No!

The YMMV thing is something that can haunt you and is a source of endless debate on this forum, which makes using a straight very enjoyable. If you are a neurotic perfectionist, absolutely not my problem, then you will find that you will go to pastes and other treatments that no rock can duplicate but you still have to end up at a place where the edge is almost perfect anyway.

The journey is great, have fun!

Richard