Thread: On top of the world after honing with my verte coticule, hoping for good shave.

I brought down a few razors to my workbench tonight. The first one I picked up was the "PICK" razor. I set the bevel on norton 1k. Next I decided to put it on the coticule, which I never really had success with. I've improved a lot since the last time I used this stone, and I just made it perfectly flat last night, so I decided on a whim to use it.
My plan was to take it really slow and dilute slowly, then finish on water. I made a milky/creamy slurry with just a short rubbing with the slurry stone. Then I did sets of ten strokes, diluting with two drops of water after each one. I was very careful to use perfect form, making sure to get full contact on each honing stroke and not tilt the blade. I did ten sets this way. Then I diluted to very light misty slurry and rinsed the blade and did ten strokes. Finally I cleaned the blade and stone with water and wiped clean, changed the tape and re-wet the stone. Then I did three sets of 10 strokes, wiping the stone and rewetting in between. This revealed a brilliant polish and a tight yet hazy scratch pattern. I checked with the loupe after each plain water set, and stopped after the third set because I stopped seeing improvement. By every measure I know, the razor is as sharp and fine as any I have yet honed.

The only thing left to do with this razor is to shave with it. At this point my hopes are very high, and I know I will either be flying high, or down in the dumps based on how the shave turns out. On another note, I'm considering giving this one to my cousin as his first straight, and if this turns out as nice as I want it to then I'll send it to him. That just seems special that his first razor will have a coticule edge.

Wish me luck with this one. I'll post here after the shave, and hopefully a celebratory SOTD.

Michael

It's nice when you get the first one under your belt. I've recently accomplished the same feat, and shaving with your own edge is a real thrill.

Michael, Bravo!!!

I've torn good portions of my remaining hair out, trying to coax a good edge from a coti. 'Usually about a low to mid 8k level result. In the last month or so, the keenness has gotten ALOT better. I'm not as discouraged. 'Very happy to hear you're getting the joy from your 'verte. 'Have a La Veinette on the way from the honorable bloodhoundman. 'Can't wait. Veinette is supposed to be one of the better finisher, and this one's big enough to land small planes on. Okay, its 10.5x2.5. 'Seems huge to me. 'Hope this dog hunts.

Looks like I'm down in the dumps today. Oh well

Michael

Ah well, try, try again. I have a lot of trouble too. Better luck next time!

I've torn good portions of my remaining hair out, trying to coax a good edge from a coti

That may be your problem. I approach coticule honing as relaxed as I can. If your frustrated you might be unconsciously applying too much pressure.

Looks like I'm down in the dumps today. Oh well

Michael try this:
Check you still have a good bevel by seeing if it cuts armhair above skin level, if it doesn't, check that it cuts at skin level. If it does try this:

Rinse the stone under the tap making sure the surface is clean of swarf and other stuff, maybe rub your hand over it as well just to make sure.
shake it to remove all but a very thin layer of water.
do 30 halfstrokes (60 in total, both sides) make sure it doesn't go dry, if it does, run the razor under the tap and use that to hydrate the hone.
carry out each side in groups of 5 halfstrokes - 5 halfstrokes, change side, 5 halfstrokes, change side
do these slowly and with only enough pressure to keep the razor on the hone

Next do 20 xstrokes with the same pressure and see how it catches a hanging hair or cuts leghair above skin level.


Try it and see if it makes a difference. Oh yeah, you don't need to do halfstrokes. I do circles with no finger pressure with strokes coming towards me and halstrokes going away from me. Its the only way I can get light enough strokes with my right hand after bevel setting. Also Try and let the slurry do the work after bevel setting instead of using pressure

good luck Michael

Michael,

Dumpstown - We'll all be there again. What was the shave like?

I've had a few that started keen and didn't last the entire shave. 'Went back and did it again, and it continues to work fine. Cotis have not come easily for me. I don't think they're for everyone, but I wouldn't bail out on a rock without 100 or more blades on it. Naturals seem to like to vex us on a regular basis. Hang in there.

Alex,
You inspired me to try again I'm not to comfy with half x-strokes. If those aren't working can I just switch back to regular x's.

Pinklather- The shave was very short. After I did a couple of sectors on my face I switched to de w feather blade. No nicks, just discomfort and pulling. I agree that naturals are tougher. I have had no success on naturals yet at all

Michael

If it was just pulling, try this. Do 40 slow x strokes on your coticule with a thin coating of clear water. Watch the water and make sure you're pushing it evenly across the whole blade; re-wet if it get too dry. Once you've done that, strop the daylights out of the blade. I do 40/60 linen leather coming off a coticule and then use one of my wife's hairs for a HHT. If it isn't acceptable, another 40/60 and another HHT. If it's getting better, you can always keep stropping (that's what I do). If it isn't getting better, then it's back to the stone with some slurry.

FWIW, I only use my coticule as a finisher. I tried the dilucot method once, and it didn't work for me. I could have spent more time and figured it out for my stone, but I don't have a proper slurry stone for my coti. My DMT-325 will raise a slurry, but most of it sticks to the DMT and washing it off onto the coti makes it too thin to really work like it's supposed to.

Its all preference Michael, I use circles for one side and halfstrokes for the other side when honing. its the only way I can keep the razors pressure equal on both sides.

if the edge doesn't improve look at this thread: http://www.coticule.be/the-cafeteria...22.html?page=2 it should also work with a 1k stone, a coticule bevel is smoother but I would try it and see how it is after trying to improve it with the above.

I've found with Naturals that pressure is far more important or lack thereof. what do you think Pinklather?





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