Slow action coticule

[urmas]

Hello,

I have a very nice coticule (50x175 mm, standard grade, from Ardennes), and it is similar to coticule 48 in coticule vault.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29949251@N02/sets/72157624017369976/

I'm worried about the slow aciton of that coticule. The slurry will only starting to become gray until after 15-20 sets of 30 halfstrokes. Even after 40-50 sets of halfstrokes the slurry is only very light gray.
I still have not get a good edge from this coticule. I tried about 30 times - after slurry bearly shaves the armhairs and after water is HHT-0 at best. Of course, I am not quite sure about my honing skills anyway, but I would like to ask you for suggestions.

1. Is such a slow action coticule good enough for sharpening razors? Rob from Ardennes said that it's possible to exchange it for another if necessary. I'm not sure whether it is necessary, but I hope that the exchange is not needed.

2. How to cope with so slow action coticule?

Thank you for the help,
Urmas

Edit: coticule length corrected.

 

[Bart]

That really sounds awful slow. Slower than the hones of the "La Verte Layer" in the Vault.

The only suggestion I can make is to apply some pressure, if you haven't done so already. There's information about pressure in this thread: http://www.coticule.be/the-cafeteria/message/5755.html.
It can make all the difference, but if it doesn't, I would take Rob's offer.

Kind regards,
Bart.

 

[urmas]

Bart, thanks for your response and the link. I will try to apply some more pressure and I hope it make the difference.

Thanks,
Urmas

 

[urmas]

I have success - along with increasing pressure, the stone began to cut more quickly. Slurry began to turn dark after a few sets of strokes.
But then a new problem arose - as a result of increasing pressure I lost my even and steady stroke. I will try again a little less pressure. But anyway, I'm afraid that with less pressure I gain back steady strokes but then I loose a cutting power of stone again. All of this is pure beginner challenge - now I'm going to re-test.

Regards,
Urmas

 

[Bart]

Doing something you were used to doing differently, will always feel a bit awkward at first.
I don't know if you watched the Dilucot honing video. It shows how way I do it. Maybe it'll be helpful, though I'm sure there's more than one way to guide a razor over a hone. In any case, once you approach the finishing stage, you must revert to the lowest possible pressure. Doesn't matter is the hone cuts slow. Slow is what you want when finishing.

Kind regards,
Bart.

 

[urmas]

Bart, thank you for making recommendations.
Yes, I have watched and read the Dilucot / Unicot sharpening methods several times. I believe that I understand their contents. I'm afraid that in my case the problem may be elsewhere. When you put together the following factors:
1. warped and light smiley blade with a quite large hone wear,
2. a relatively slow, 50 mm wide coticule,
3. and my modest honing skills.
Conclusion - if you put the above mentioned aspects together, then the achieving success would be the extremely unlikely.

My next step is to select more straight razor and I weight, maybe I should cut my coticule to 40 mm in width.

Thanks,
Urmas

 

[Bart]

My next step is to select more straight razor and I weight, maybe I should cut my coticule to 40 mm in width.

Starting out on an easier razor is a good plan.:thumbup:

Trimming 10 mm off your Coticule is not. If you can't succeed on a width of 50mm, you certainly won't be able to do it on 4Omm either. 40 or 50 mm, it really does not matter.

Good luck, Urmas. It just take some practice. Most people need several attempts before they get it right.

Kind regards,
Bart.

 

[tat2Ralfy]

I have to second that, an easier razor is of course err easier, a less wide hone is not, esp when you are starting out.

Good luck with your progress, I started absolutely from scratch nearly 9 months ago, and am proud to say that now I am pretty good at it.

Best wishes
Ralfson