Thread: Help with a coticule size please?

I'll say it as Jarrod says "the more time you spend trying to pick the perfect stone, the less time you have learning to hone and getting great shaves", or something like that. Just order you a coticule and start honing it, if you mess it up it's not the end of the world, and if you can't fix it I am sure someone would be more than happy to fix it for you.

Originally Posted by matt789

I'll say it as Jarrod says "the more time you spend trying to pick the perfect stone, the less time you have learning to hone and getting great shaves", or something like that. Just order you a coticule and start honing it, if you mess it up it's not the end of the world, and if you can't fix it I am sure someone would be more than happy to fix it for you.

Mess up the blade or the stone? I'm. More worried about the blade

Originally Posted by Legion

When I was learning I found my smaller hones (barber hone sized) harder to use. Until you have the muscle memory it can be hard keeping the blade flat on narrower stones. That is not to say this will be the same for you, but that was my experience.

For what it's worth I now have a La Verte in my stable that is only 23mm wide, and it does a great job. Especially on warped and smiling blades. If it is for a great price I say grab it. If you have trouble you can always put it away until you get more practice, or sell it and make a few bucks. It is always easy to sell coticules.

Is it better to get a better stone such as a la verte or la veinette, which were the types recommended to me by jarrod, even though I can only afford the smaller stones, or get a proper sized rectangular stone that's cheaper..?

Any good coticule will do the job. Couple of members sell them, or get one straight from the quarry Ardennes Coticule - natural sharpening stones from Vielsalm Belgium. - Home . Rectangular ones are a bit more exspensive than the bouts but no better. Get a rubbing stone with it if you can.

Originally Posted by Chefbaze

Is it better to get a better stone such as a la verte or la veinette, which were the types recommended to me by jarrod, even though I can only afford the smaller stones, or get a proper sized rectangular stone that's cheaper..?

I would say buy the biggest rectangle you can. It's not necessary that it be a rectangle though, you could get a nice big bout for the same price as a smaller rectangle one, and like legion said you can always sell it if you don't like it.

My opinion is that if a person has more trouble getting a good edge from a coticule than a synthetic, it is probably the fault of the coticule. Not a fault actually, but either the coticule is of such a hard variety that the honer loses patience or the stone isn't flat. I have some coticules that are more like translucent arkansas stones in the slowness in cutting. On the bright side, these coticules will almost last forever. Personally, I don't have the patience to set an edge using one of these slow stones but instead just use them for finishing up or polishing an edge. I use the fast cutting coticules to set an edge.

Unfortunately, since coticules have gotten so expensive, many honers on a budget never get to find out how good the best coticules can be as they are limited to one or two stones. And unfortunately, unless someone dies, the best coticules are almost NEVER the ones that get sold. I've sold several coticules on Ebay in the past, but they were never my best stones. For that reason it is often safer to buy from someone like superior shave that has too many stones to keep them all. Some of them just HAVE to be good! Also, some of the best coticules on Ebay and in antique stores can be found in wooden coffin cases as many of the very good old stones were appreciated and protected.

Your a brave guy for starting with coticules as your chosen stone. I'm saying this because mine is a temperamental bugger, but learn how to treat her and she'll reward you with great edges(seriously, if your too heavy (pressure) you won't get anywhere. a light touch and your there baby ).

I would advise buying from a Vendor who tests they're coticules and can give you an idea of how it performs. La verte's are great finishers but you'll eventually try the one stone honing and it'll take a little longer with one of them, they're on the slow side of the spectrum. I would prefer a verdict from a vendor on the characteristics rather than a particular vein.

If you talk to a supplier, tell them what you want and most will do what they can to help you, Rectangles are dearer, I think? so if you wanted a bout, ask them to try find you one as close to a rectangle as you can get and one with as little a slant as possible (its preference, but I got rid of my slants as I prefer flat hones) and for beginners it may be easier to hone.

I was always wonder when people talk about the cost of coticules, coticules are traditionally to be handheld hones (they were popular barbers hones) so any huge $200 stone won't be comfortable hand honing. There is no difference between standard and select grade coticules, aesthetic characteristics and veins seem to dictate select and standard grade coticules (Correct me if I'm wrong on this).

I would strongly recommend starting with a Norton 4000/8000 rather than a coticule. It's easier to learn on, and will give more consistent results as you learn.

Since your main purpose is keeping a good edge "good", I think a coticule is a great idea. Buy whatever you can afford. I would say, as someone who found a very affordable coticule, and promptly sold my synthetics, that learning to hone on a coticule as a new guy is tough. I've been fighting with mine for 5 months and haven't mastered it. But as a way to keep an already sharp edge in good condition it oughta work out well. If you decide you want to try honing from start to finish, you'll be glad you bought a smaller coticule, so you can buy a big synthetic. For comparisons sake, I'll tell you, the new guy that bought my synthetics is already selling "shave ready" razors on Ebay, and stones that will put a "fantastic" edge on your razor...While I'm at 8 months in, and couldn't tell you for sure what a "fantastic" edge even looks like. Although, thanks to professional honers, I do get to shave with one.

I started on a coticule as well as many others. They aren't rocket science. Yes a Norton would probably be easier but I didn't want a synthetic hone, I liked the idea of a natural stone and being able to go from start to finish on one stone.

If your looking to just maintain your edge, buy you a Franz Swaty barbers hone, this will keep it in shaving condition for a long time.