Thread: I need some Coticule help

Before I got to know how to fully use the Coticule I got by using it only on a already shave-ready razor to give it that smooth Coticule edge it is famous for.
Sharpen the razor on a synthetic stone like you are used to do and after that give it like 30 to 50 light X-strokes better yet pigtail strokes on the Coticule using only clear water. If your Coticule is giving of slurry by itself while honing keep rinsing it.
Your edge will still be sharp but will now feel as smooth as any Coticule edge.
Alternatively you can add a layer of tape for the finishing strokes, thereby creating a secondary microbevel, also called the unicot method.
This method is almost foolproof and the easiest method for beginners to achieve great results but after a few rehonings you have to reset the bevel.

Sorry for laughing but gotta love the irony of that barber's answer.

Here's a thought . Hone the razor to the best of your ability on the Naniwa stones. Do 10 or 20 featherlight strokes on the coti, water only. See if the shave is better or worse or no different. If the edge degrades after 12k with such a light approach the stone is likely not viable as a finisher. If no obvious change try 5-10 more strokes. If it improves you have a method for using that stone.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Sorry for laughing but gotta love the irony of that barber's answer.

Here's a thought . Hone the razor to the best of your ability on the Naniwa stones. Do 10 or 20 featherlight strokes on the coti, water only. See if the shave is better or worse or no different. If the edge degrades after 12k with such a light approach the stone is likely not viable as a finisher. If no obvious change try 5-10 more strokes. If it improves you have a method for using that stone.

It was a funny story I'll take your advice and give it a try.

As far as I have experienced, all coticules are finishers; it's the run-up to that which makes different coticules behave distinctly different.

BTW, all a coticule on water (with only the weight of the blade, i.e. without pressure) really does is polish the edge, it doesn't add sharpness or dull a razor. If your edge deteriorates when all you do is finish it on clear water after a different hone, I would advise you to pay close attention to your honing technique, because it really shouldn't.

I also suggest starting with Unicot, follow it pretty much to the letter, you should get good results pretty soon.

Originally Posted by rcavazos1922

I have a 50 x 175mm coticule and I was going to use it as a finisher. I used my Dovo Carre, that had a very sharp Naniwa SS edge, as my test razor. My first try was with just water, I think I did 40 light laps. I did 60 laps on linen and 100 on horse hide. I shaved with it and thought "It feels dull...more laps should make it better" I got an ok shave with it.

I went back to the coticule and did 40 more laps, 60 linen and 100 horse hide. I shaved with it again and got a better shave but the Naniwa edge gave me a much closer shave.

So I went back to the coticule again but this time I used a light slurry. It looked like 2% milk and I used a slurry stone to make it. I did 30 light laps and noticed the slurry was only light gray (slow cutter?). I then sprayed the slurry with water one time every 10 laps until the slurry was clear. I then washed the coticule and the razor and used just water for about 80 laps. I did notice the razor "sticking" while I was doing the stroke away from me (that never happened with the Naniwa SS) but It was smooth as I did the stroke towards me.

I did my usual strop routine and even tried a HHT. It failed badly but I shaved with it anyway. That thing was pulling all through my first pass. I had to do a lot more work on my third pass than usual. It gave me a poor shave

What should I do?

With finishing with a coti make sure you use electrical tape on the spine. And just use water. No slurry. Until it passes the HHT then strop and shave.

Originally Posted by Pithor

BTW, all a coticule on water (with only the weight of the blade, i.e. without pressure) really does is polish the edge, it doesn't add sharpness or dull a razor.

OP has a 12 k so the razor should already be sharp & only need polishing. Of course if it doesn't polish he is doing something wrong or the stone is at fault. I disagree that they are all finishers. Like any natural stone, consistency varies.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

OP has a 12 k so the razor should already be sharp & only need polishing.

That's what I figured as well. The only reason one would use a coticule on an edge that has been honed up to 12,000 grit would be to polish.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I disagree that they are all finishers. Like any natural stone, consistency varies.

It's your good right to disagree, that's why I added "in my experience", which consists of working with stones of five different strata. I have had quite similar edges off those five yellow layers and three BBW's, sharp enough for me and plenty smooth. In my experience so far I just have not seen much of a difference in consistency of the finished edges (after some practice with all of them). Getting there is a completely different story, every hone has its quirks.

Of the five layers of coticules I own one is an older mined coticule, the rest are from recent exploitation.

I've managed to get hold of a vintage barbers coticule and currently practicing on it. Not quite there yet but Gary has honed my razors with a coti and man are they smooth shavers. That's why my face ruled in favour of them The razor was bought and honed before it was sent out and it was definitely sharp but my face seems to prefer the smooth coti edge instead of the sharper edge. Personally that Sheffield razors seem far smoother on the coti compared to the Dovo BQ.

I'm still learning the slurry but apart from setting a bevel, I'll be using the one coti from that to finish.

I recently made a little stir on other forums by mentioning how I use my coticules. I make slurry on the stone, make sure it is wet and just start honing on X strokes. I then dip the slurry stone and refresh the slurry on the dirty old slurry. All you need to do is keep the stone wet. Very simple.

I found it funny that this was considered odd on other forums because this is how we all did coticules back in the day(like 2008 lol).

Before all the terms...methods, cot this and cot that, we used them and they worked. I get wonderful edges on slurry as long as its wet. No dilution...no tape..etc. Thats how Liam does it in his video, thats how lxemergency did it...Im not knocking newer methods but I did find it odd that what I said I do now is being called"undilucot"!

Originally Posted by Disburden

I recently made a little stir on other forums by mentioning how I use my coticules.

Don't know if it is true but I heard they burned you in effigy at the recent razor meet .......