After about 5 or 6 attempts I had some success with Dilucot tonight. I just finished a great shave with my first self-honed coticule edge!
After doing extensive reading(much more reading than posting), I spent a lot more time at the really thin slurry stage than the thicker slurry stage. I used Gary's tips and went through a whole dilucot series then rubbed the hone with the slurry stone just a couple of times and did some more sets of halfstrokes and finally ended on 50 X-strokes on water. After stropping I got clean HHT 3s all the way along the edge. This means my strokes have gotten better as I usually get better results at the heel than the rest of the blade. One thing I did do different is I slowed my half-strokes down to make sure they were right.
It wasn't the best shave I've ever gotten, the coticule edge I had honed for me was better. But I am excited to get a good shave with a self-honed razor.
Now comes the slow process of improving the basics to get to where I know my edge can be. I'm enjoying it so far.
After doing extensive reading(much more reading than posting), I spent a lot more time at the really thin slurry stage than the thicker slurry stage. I used Gary's tips and went through a whole dilucot series then rubbed the hone with the slurry stone just a couple of times and did some more sets of halfstrokes and finally ended on 50 X-strokes on water. After stropping I got clean HHT 3s all the way along the edge. This means my strokes have gotten better as I usually get better results at the heel than the rest of the blade. One thing I did do different is I slowed my half-strokes down to make sure they were right.
It wasn't the best shave I've ever gotten, the coticule edge I had honed for me was better. But I am excited to get a good shave with a self-honed razor.
Now comes the slow process of improving the basics to get to where I know my edge can be. I'm enjoying it so far.