Thread: How Does One "Finish" With A Coticule

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Lots of good advice already,,,

I can only add one more thought and honestly it isn't proved

I go to a finisher after the razor is completly shave ready, for me that is at the 8k level, it might be there for you also, but to know you have to test your honing..
Once you are confident in that shave ready level, then the finish becomes just that "A finish" you are going to have to try a few different methods of finishing with your Coti to decide which gives the best edge and even then it might vary between razors a bit..

I do have to agree with most of the guys above, that once you hit the 12k there really isn't much room left to improve on the edge...

Glen: I think I don't understand your post. You say you got the 'finisher' AFTER it's shave ready? Meaning you hone, strop....and then go to the finisher? And then shave?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

For best results have a couple of healthy pinches of Copenhagen snuff under your lower lip .....

I rather like the wintergreen as it offers a cooling effect. I wonder if that is a thing? Tobacco finished!

I have just received a 6"x1.5" vintage combo coti and have been experimenting on it. I took three razors to 8k and they shaved ok. I then ran one on the coti with pure water and super light pressure.

I gave it a look under 60x and the bevel looked to have been polished but a little scratchy. Hand stroped because I did not bring my strop on this business trip.

The razor had dulled and pulled quite a bit but felt smooth. I will have to give another review one I have stroped the razor properly.

As of now, I have to say that a razor straight off a thuri gave me a much better shave.

I am still learning the stones just posting my experiences so far.

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

Glen: I think I don't understand your post. You say you got the 'finisher' AFTER it's shave ready? Meaning you hone, strop....and then go to the finisher? And then shave?

No

There are 4 stages of honing regardless of what system you are using


Bevel set
Sharpen
Polish
Finish


A shave ready razor is where you can comfortably shave, for most experienced people this is at about the 8k level (Grit equivalent not a certain hone) some people need higher some lower, but where ever that stage is for you is where you should begin using a Finisher...

This is a progressive journey, which is why you hear many say that until you can get CCS at the 8k level consistently there is no reason to add a finisher...


The last bit about the 12k is because I don't believe in "Stacking" finishers, when I read about people using multiple finishers on one razor my thought always is that they are stressing the edge, or that the edge wasn't good enough to use the finisher they wanted in the first place..

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

For best results have a couple of healthy pinches of Copenhagen snuff under your lower lip .....

It worked for shining my boots as well

Ugh, I remember mentioning this spit stuff...

Now I just use water and if the stone is not fine enough then I use paste or a finer stone after.
Rinse the stone often near the sink to ensure it is staying clean, that is all.