Thread: Naniwa 12K after a Coticule, to improve edges that are good but not great?

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

i never said that.
you will remove metal always.
how much is the question.
if you are in lower grit level you will remove more compare to higher grit stone.
Basically when you go from 4k to 8k norton only you will see very less metal moving.
if you have done job correctly below 8k level.
Now lets say you have 6k stone then when you move from 6k to 8k you will see less then 4k-8k level.
i hope now i am clear.

Thanks for the clarification. I did mention that my question may have been dumb.

I will preface this with saying that I know that a lot of us have different objectives when honing. I just have never understood how a "finisher" needs a couple of laps on the felt be it Diamond,CNB, or whatever. I have not run across a Coticule that I would consider giving a finished edge but I have not invested in world class Coticules and instead went to J-Nats. Coticules have a buttery feel and feedback that is certainly not bettered by many, if any, stones. I know that I am in the minority but, for me, to consider a razor to be properly honed I take it off the stone,strop it, and shave with it. I use CNB on felt for a touch-up after about 5 shaves. I just have never shaved with a Coticule honed razor that didn't need more attention.

Am I just a deluded babe in the woods?

Take Care,
Richard

Originally Posted by riooso

Am I just a deluded babe in the woods?

Could be... Also could be that you've never used a razor that was honed really well on one either

Originally Posted by riooso

I have not run across a Coticule that I would consider giving a finished edge but I have not invested in world class Coticules and instead went to J-Nats. Coticules have a buttery feel and feedback that is certainly not bettered by many, if any, stones. I know that I am in the minority but, for me, to consider a razor to be properly honed I take it off the stone,strop it, and shave with it. I use CNB on felt for a touch-up after about 5 shaves. I just have never shaved with a Coticule honed razor that didn't need more attention.

Am I just a deluded babe in the woods?

Take Care,
Richard

How are you using your coticule?

It's an important question because, much like an 8k edge, you should be able to get a great shave off a coticule edge, with much more smoothness than a synthetic 8k hone. Yes, other hones may impart a keener feeling edge, but a coticule edge is more than just 'shaveable'....

Originally Posted by richmondesi

Could be... Also could be that you've never used a razor that was honed really well on one either

I am game! I would consider it an honor to send you a razor that I have honed to my satisfaction on my J-Nat and when you are done with it hone it up on a Coticule and send it back to me. It is seldom that I can get feedback on what I have honed up and at the same time Coticules were my first love....! I view this as a learning opportunity for me. I am thinking that you are pretty good with a Coticule and I learned a long time ago, before I shaved with a J-Nat edge, that things are never written in stone...is that a pun? Perceptions about edges can change with the stropping of a razor!

Thanks,
Richard

I confess a frustration for the amount of fussing that I have to do to get a really good coti edge. Only twice have I gotten a coti edge that stood tall along side the jnat, but those two prove it happens. I either lack the skill or patience to fuss that much with the coti. Once a bevel is set, I use the coti for everything up to 12k. A few at 12k and 10 strokes on the jnat, and I'm a happy guy.

If you do feel a really good coti edge, it will at least give you respect that the edges can be outstanding. 'Just wish I had the skill or patience or a footlocker of cotis that would do what a synthetic 12k, then asagi could do. I will never put the coti down, and have great respect for those with the right touch to bring out their best. 'A lovely feeling edge.

Richard, we can do that, but it's a complete waste of both of our times. Combining the backfire effect with self fulfilling prophecies and my utter disregard for penis swinging contests dooms the "experiment" to failure. I'd suggest, instead, that I send you a hone that I know works really well, and you spend the time and effort to learn to use it to your satisfaction. JimR has a really good blog entry dispelling the intellectually bankrupt idea that there's somehow some type of magic in Japanese Naturals: So You Want to Buy A natural Japanese Stone

Originally Posted by richmondesi

JimR has a really good blog entry dispelling the intellectually bankrupt idea that there's somehow some type of magic in Japanese Naturals: So You Want to Buy A natural Japanese Stone

The fore mentioned blog entry confirms the old adage, "it ain't the arrow, as much as it is the Indian."

You also need to take into account the razor itself which really is the determining factor...

You really can't ever call any stone the best...

Example:
Say Richard and Paul trade a Sheffield razor with a heavy grind then I am going to bet that the Coticule is the best, but if that razor is a Newer TI then the Coticule is going to be sorely lacking so don't forget the razor has it's own opinion too...

I don't know anything about it, but I took a brandy new TI that was honed by someone who supplements their income doing that and honed it on a coticule to perfection (at least in my opinion) without so much as a hint of difficulty for a friend who is a regular customer of the aforementioned "professional" (not you, Glen or Lynn ). I think it really does come down to the hands and effort. For guys like you who run through as many as you do, sure, it probably makes a big difference in terms of efficiency and consistency. But, for guys like me, I don't think there's any razor that all of the quality stones can't make shave beautifully.