Thread: Dilucot and unicot

I was just thinking, since the dilucot and unicot method are used as a method of honing and don't apply particularly to coticules it makes me wonder in the choosing of the name for these methods. I'm basing this on my guess that dilucot meaning dilution "dilu" and "cot" coticule. Now the unicot method meaning "uni" One "cot" coticule doesn't really sound like a method involving creating a micro bevel. Is it just whoever coined these words were strictly coticule users?

Those terms were coined by guys who, at the very least, could be described as coticule devotees. For them it was logical to tie the method as directly as possible to their stone of choice.

As a point of reference this became a really controversial topic and generated much heated discussion. Hopefully this thread doesn't veer off in that direction.

Well the terms unicot and dilucot do apply specifically to coticules. While creating a slurry on a stone and adding water while honing peridocially, until you are down to clear water can be done on lots of different hones. Calling it Dilucot on a Norton wouldn't really be correct. Anyways, yeah...The guys who coined the terms were, and are pretty devoted to coticule use, and the terms were meant to be used with regard to honing on coticules. If you're working on another stone, and called it dulicot, well...It'd just sound ignorant.

As Bill said, the terms came from a coticule devotee who began experimenting with those methods and coined the titles. Since that time the method has been applied to various natural and synthetic stones but the original names stuck. No matter the stone used the terms are explanatory to those who are using one method or the other.

Oh sorry guys, I didn't know this was a topic of heated discussion. If anyone wants to take it down I understand.

"A Stone By Any Other Name!", by that I mean its' the procedure that mater's more that any nome given to it, it can be used on any number of different stone's.

JMHO, tinkersd

Me and Jimmy posted at the same time. Just to clarify, I wasn't calling anyone ignorant. But if someone told me they are using dilucot, I would assume it was a coticule they were working with. While if they said they were using slurry dilution, I would ask what stone they were using. Make sense? If someone offfered me a "coke", then handed me a Pepsi, I would correct them. Might just be a "me" problem though. Same thing if someone said they had an Escher for sale, then handed me an unlabeled thuringian with assurances it used to have a label. It might be the same thing....but it's not. And if you said you've been using "dilucot" and don't have a coticule, I would wonder where in the world you heard the term, and accompany it with a history lesson. It's just about being informed. But yeah, it's the same procedure, regardless of stone, but couldn't be dilucot, without the cot. And hence, the name, IMO, is tied to the stone. I haven't been around much though. Maybe people are using the term regardless of stone these days. Language evolution is constant.

I seem to recall that "tempest in a teapot." I can't for the life of me figure out why people get all bent out of shape over things like razor honing (or razor ANYTHING for that matter). You see similar little controversies on fly-fishing forums (and I guess scuba-diving and needlepoint forums, too-point being it's probably universal in the perceived anonymity of the internet). While I know it's important to be specific, correct, and as precise as possible (after all, I'm the English teacher who exhorts my students to use the language like a surgeon wields a scalpel, instead of like a scatter-gun), some people take it (and themselves?) a mite too far. The infamous "scything stroke" controversy comes to mind, various Williams wars, spine-taping or not, etc. Just my 2 cents. YMMV-Aaron

I thought I'd add that RegularJoe's "Language evolution is constant" quote is very true. Look at the word mouse, for instance, or the way brand names like Kleenex, Hoover, or Coke become generic across all manufacturers' products. As a long-time linguistics nerd, my experience has been that language has a mind and a life of its own, and will ignore all attempts to control it. More food for thought

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

I seem to recall that "tempest in a teapot." I can't for the life of me figure out why people get all bent out of shape over things like razor honing (or razor ANYTHING for that matter). You see similar little controversies on fly-fishing forums

With us it's about splitting hairs. With Fly fishing it's about stacking & trimming.