Thread: So The Noob Went And Bought A Coticule...

Originally Posted by jpcwon

So you would recommend using the Coti as part of a multi-stone system?

Going along with what Neil said, first you need to mess with it and see where it fits in. It may be more a finisher or it may be an 'all around' stone. I also agree with what Ryan said about the shaving characteristics. I know, for a fact, that many of the pro barbers in Northern New Jersey , USA, honed their razors on coticules.

Once I began using them I found the edge to be sharp enough and smooth enough for a comfortable shave, but not so 'scary' sharp that I would have worried about cutting a customer if I was a pro barber. I do think that the ... I'll call it mild edge .... of the coticule was the major attraction for those guys.

Not to say that there aren't some coticules and some honers who may be able to get to 'scary' sharp, but I think that is the exception rather than the rule. At least the 20 or so I've had would indicate that to me. Fool with it and see where it fits in. You may really enjoy the edge you get from it.

Cool, thanks for the insight! I'm definitely more a fan of smooth over scary sharp (being a SR newb and all!), so hopefully it fits in well with what I expect out of a blade.

Plus, I just get a lot of joy out of honing, so I think using the Coti will only add to that!

I was able to ue my first coticule (a 40x150 standard) to take a new razor to shave ready. It took a bit of practice but worked fine in the end. I continue to keep that blade sharp with just that one stone.

The challenge of naturals is that one doesn't have the consistency of a synthetic. It's hard,as you attempt more razors, to develop a technique that works for everything. You may have success on one blade but not the next, then be left wondering what happened.

I had fun playing with natural stones, while learning to hone. When I wanted to learn consistency to be able to hone anything I stuck to the synthetics.

I have a real good chance at successfully honing any blade on synthetics. Maybe 85% or more on the first try. If I decide to break out a coticule with slurry those chances get a lot lower and the time spent increases.

Enjoy your purchase. You will have success if you practice. In the end the edge you get may not matter. What will matter is that you and your coti produced that edge.

Michael

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

I was able to ue my first coticule (a 40x150 standard) to take a new razor to shave ready. It took a bit of practice but worked fine in the end. I continue to keep that blade sharp with just that one stone.

The challenge of naturals is that one doesn't have the consistency of a synthetic. It's hard,as you attempt more razors, to develop a technique that works for everything. You may have success on one blade but not the next, then be left wondering what happened.

I had fun playing with natural stones, while learning to hone. When I wanted to learn consistency to be able to hone anything I stuck to the synthetics.

I have a real good chance at successfully honing any blade on synthetics. Maybe 85% or more on the first try. If I decide to break out a coticule with slurry those chances get a lot lower and the time spent increases.

Enjoy your purchase. You will have success if you practice. In the end the edge you get may not matter. What will matter is that you and your coti produced that edge.

Michael

I really appreciate the opinion! I'm learning that there are different ways to get a result in honing (synthetics, naturals, etc..) and I really want to be able to experience all the different means to "the end" (a smooth, sharp edge), so I'm excited to start my journey with the Coticule...