yohannrjm
Well-Known Member
I only recently received my first coticule - an 8" x 1.5" natural combo, with only a very thin layer of coticule. I immediately started playing around with honing my razors on this stone. Using either a unicot or dilucot method on several razors (full-hollow, wedges - a nice variety) I quickly got decent, but not exceptional edges.
Yesterday I received a 5/8" J R Torrey faux frameback in not-so-good condition. It had pitting near the edge, and several nice sized chips at the edge. I bought it to play with, and also because it was made in Worcester MA, which is only a few miles from where I live. I usually prefer larger blades, but this was $15 shipped on one of the shaving forums, so I couldn't pass it up.
I buffed out some of the major cosmetic issues with the razor, and then honed out the pits and chips from the edge with a DMT 1200. The blade had a slight smile, and I kept it - because I like smiles.
Then it was time for the coti. I used the Unicot technique this time. I went through the whole process as written up by Bart, except for adding 30 X strokes on the BBW side with a slurry before going to the coti with plain water. 50 strokes on the coti with plain water, followed by the stropping on canvas and leather, and the razor was ready.
I shaved with it for the first time this morning. Wow!! :w00t: :w00t: What a beautiful, smooth, comfortable shave. It was close too!! - among the best shaves I've ever had - with any razor. WTG, XTG and partial ATG passes were all great and comfortable. This gave the most comfortable ATG pass I've ever had. No irritation, weepers, etc. (I rarely get those anyway, but this was the best ever).
As I said, I've only had the coti for a short while. One great edge doesn't mean that all the edges I get will be equally good, which is sad :cry:. Still, it occurred to me: I know basically nothing about honing with a coti, and the results are already good (at least occasionally).........that means that as I get more experience, this can only get better. :w00t:
Please tell me that's the case. :thumbup:

Yesterday I received a 5/8" J R Torrey faux frameback in not-so-good condition. It had pitting near the edge, and several nice sized chips at the edge. I bought it to play with, and also because it was made in Worcester MA, which is only a few miles from where I live. I usually prefer larger blades, but this was $15 shipped on one of the shaving forums, so I couldn't pass it up.
I buffed out some of the major cosmetic issues with the razor, and then honed out the pits and chips from the edge with a DMT 1200. The blade had a slight smile, and I kept it - because I like smiles.
Then it was time for the coti. I used the Unicot technique this time. I went through the whole process as written up by Bart, except for adding 30 X strokes on the BBW side with a slurry before going to the coti with plain water. 50 strokes on the coti with plain water, followed by the stropping on canvas and leather, and the razor was ready.
I shaved with it for the first time this morning. Wow!! :w00t: :w00t: What a beautiful, smooth, comfortable shave. It was close too!! - among the best shaves I've ever had - with any razor. WTG, XTG and partial ATG passes were all great and comfortable. This gave the most comfortable ATG pass I've ever had. No irritation, weepers, etc. (I rarely get those anyway, but this was the best ever).
As I said, I've only had the coti for a short while. One great edge doesn't mean that all the edges I get will be equally good, which is sad :cry:. Still, it occurred to me: I know basically nothing about honing with a coti, and the results are already good (at least occasionally).........that means that as I get more experience, this can only get better. :w00t:
Please tell me that's the case. :thumbup:
