I've been going for a few weeks with my coticule (les latneuses) and have really struggled to get any of my razors to the level of keeness required to shave decently.
I've tried full dilucot and unicot techniques and Gary Haywood's accelerated approach. No luck. The edge coming off water is about HHT 1. I've taken razors that were at HHT 3 and touched them up on water only - back down to HHT 1 or even HHT 0.
I can easily get a bevel edge off slurry and the razors easily shave hair on my arm. But the refinement and polishing just doesn't work at all. Even 60 x-strokes with almost negative pressure make no impact although the water does turn grey so my stone must be pretty fast.
I've never come close to HHT 3 off the stone but in frustration today (halfway through a very pulling shave) I took my lather, grabbed the coti and slapped lather on the stone. I've used very light x-strokes at all times and got the razor a little bit sharper (HHT 2) but still not there, even after 60 strokes on linen and another 40 on leather (back to HHT 3).
I'm wondering whether it's my technique. I can't hone one handed as the razor never stays flat so I'm using a single finger, very lightly, to keep the blade flat.
Is it necessary to hone with one hand or are there any other suggestions that I could look at?
I've tried full dilucot and unicot techniques and Gary Haywood's accelerated approach. No luck. The edge coming off water is about HHT 1. I've taken razors that were at HHT 3 and touched them up on water only - back down to HHT 1 or even HHT 0.
I can easily get a bevel edge off slurry and the razors easily shave hair on my arm. But the refinement and polishing just doesn't work at all. Even 60 x-strokes with almost negative pressure make no impact although the water does turn grey so my stone must be pretty fast.
I've never come close to HHT 3 off the stone but in frustration today (halfway through a very pulling shave) I took my lather, grabbed the coti and slapped lather on the stone. I've used very light x-strokes at all times and got the razor a little bit sharper (HHT 2) but still not there, even after 60 strokes on linen and another 40 on leather (back to HHT 3).
I'm wondering whether it's my technique. I can't hone one handed as the razor never stays flat so I'm using a single finger, very lightly, to keep the blade flat.
Is it necessary to hone with one hand or are there any other suggestions that I could look at?