Slow Coticules

[Raithskar]

Most of you gents know I am an established Coticule Honer, and also a self professed "Coti Ho"

Of my 4 stones I have two that are slow as christmas. A La Dressante and a La Grise (they almost feel Identical in performance).

Are any of you taking a glass dulled edge to shave ready on these stones? I am trying to , but I just cannot get there. I have only been able to get one razor to shave ready on each stone. If you guys have any tips on how long you are taking on bevel set, and inbetween dilutions, I sure could use a good base line to go by.

I really would like to get consistent edges from these stones in a full honing session. I know this is possible on these stones, but going from say a La Veinette (my fastest stone) to one of the slow ones feels like I am starting all over. I know that I am probably rushing things, but I can't figure out where. The edges from these stone are so mellow and smooth I am determined to make them work.

Any Tips are appreciated.

 

[Obiwan]

I have a few slower ones in my "stable" and I have tested numerous ones for fellow members. One recently which was a La Grise for a friend that I feel may hold the record for the slowest stone ever (seriously). I've used them all with success several times but never when I'm in a rush. Each one has been different, but (IME) usually they require a bit more pressure than most are comfortable using. I tend to stay with circles and half strokes for a majority of the session until the finish. As a time reference, a recent one I did with the "5 minute paco-cot" took about 30 minutes.

 

[Raithskar]

As a time reference, a recent one I did with the "5 minute paco-cot" took about 30 minutes.

Bwahahaha! Thanks as always David. I will keep trying, and the fact you mention more pressure that is one of the problems, I have been using my normal light pressure like on my faster stones. Will give it some more and try it out. I will update my findings later.

 

[BakerAndBadger]

+1 on pressure. I have a la grise and she didn't want to yield anything other than Unicot until recently. I'd given it up as a bad job, I can get nice edges off both my vintage cotis but this one is an 8x2 and was my first buy so I had to make it work. I've now started to use more pressure and hardly worry about diluting properly like a dilucot. Get a nice milky slurry to set the bevel then clean, new slurry and circles and half x's till I get bored - that's usually about 30 to 40 strokes. Slight dilute or two and same routine but each time I start heavy handed and lighten before the next dilute.
i have a theory - circles should get rid of scratches faster than x's. totally unfounded as I don't have a microscope but I reckon going across the scratches covers them better.
ok once I've diluted a bit I clean the stone and hit the water. If it doesn't undercut I'll add a little pressure or twist the tang - saw Larry mention it here once - like twisting a pencil between your fingers. Finally clean again a no pressure full x's. test on arm and if it clips the hair tips then I'll give it a strop and I generally hit a solid 3 or better. Not getting regular 4's but I can now go ATG on the first pass with my coti edges which means that they suit me and are plenty sharp.

 

[Raithskar]

Thanks Baker! Yeah I call twisting the blade like you talk about Torquing the blade, different description but the same technique. I am gonna bear down on it tonight and see where we go.

Come to think of it, the only shave ready blade I got from it, I had to go back to water after stropping. I reall applied the pressure with quite a few sets of half strokes, and then x strokes, and I got HHT 4 after stropping that. Seems pressure is key with the 'ol softies.

 

[bad-bryce]

I have a La Grise as well and not been able to establish a shaving edge off it. I hear at more pressure but how much pressure exactly? I know this not easy to explain but some sort of idea please. I miss using my straights and do not want to loose the knack of it.

 

[Raithskar]

I have a La Grise as well and not been able to establish a shaving edge off it. I hear at more pressure but how much pressure exactly? I know this not easy to explain but some sort of idea please. I miss using my straights and do not want to loose the knack of it.

Draw a pencil line on a piece of paper. Erase it and take note of the pressure you use that is normal pressure for a coticule. You can apply more pressure than the norm on a La Grise. I would add a little at a time until you find your groove.

 

[Obiwan]

+1 on adding a little at a time until you see of the edge reacts. For me, I find you can use pressure as a tool on stubborn blades or stones whether it be hard or soft (YMMV of course).

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

I'm going to try this in my next honing session. I have one straight in particular that has been completely resistant to my efforts. I thought it was my bevel set but it may be the coticule.

 

[Beatnik]

Come to think of it, the only shave ready blade I got from it, I had to go back to water after stropping. I reapplied the pressure with quite a few sets of half strokes, and then x strokes, and I got HHT 4 after stropping that. Seems pressure is key with the 'ol softies.

I have a "soft" La Grise as well and have not had success in finishing with it. I'll have to try adding a few sets of "pressured" half strokes on water to the normal set of x strokes and see what happens ...thanks to all of you who have posted, great information!

 

[Doc226]

You could make a slower coticule faster by the right slurry stone. Then the finish should be slow and more laps.

 

[Beatnik]

You could make a slower coticule faster by the right slurry stone. Then the finish should be slow and more laps.

Could you explain what a right slurry stone might be ...a faster one perhaps?

 

[MilkyLee]

Are you guys with soft "La Grise" coti's finishing using running water or with oil? I can't imagine finishing on a stone that auto-slurries without using running water or adding some oil or Smith's honing solution at the end. I know Jarrod likes La Grise stones, hopefully he can chime in on how he uses them.

 

[Doc226]

Could you explain what a right slurry stone might be ...a faster one perhaps?

Yep, I have a slurry sliver of a stone that can make glass pretty fast. I have no idea the layer but it makes them all fast.

 

[Obiwan]

Dusty, I finish under running water almost all the time (la grise or not).

 

[MilkyLee]

I never use running water on my coti's. The only coti I use at the sink is the thin one because I hand hone with it and I do 5 x-strokes and then rinse the stone under the faucet.

 

[shaverjoe]

I have a few slower ones in my "stable" and I have tested numerous ones for fellow members. One recently which was a La Grise for a friend that I feel may hold the record for the slowest stone ever (seriously). I've used them all with success several times but never when I'm in a rush. Each one has been different, but (IME) usually they require a bit more pressure than most are comfortable using. I tend to stay with circles and half strokes for a majority of the session until the finish. As a time reference, a recent one I did with the "5 minute paco-cot" took about 30 minutes.

The "Molasses" Stone

 

[raccoonandbrush]

Whenever I use a Coticule to do most of the honing, I set the bevel first with my Chosera 1K.

 

[Krodor]

I don't usually hone from scratch with a coticule, but

Whenever I use a Coticule to do most of the honing, I set the bevel first with my Chosera 1K.

...Stay thirsty, my friends....

 

[gary haywood]

I have the la grise. With pedulled even slow la grise or some of the newly mined super slow coticules with slurry will bring back predulled bevel..Beyond that would take some efort. I'd use a faster vein in that case ...

The la grise i have found frustrating..Its on loan with amember and he also found it frustarting. The la grise is now on the way to another member to try....I can imagine a succesful edge of the la grise to rewarding if your willing to stick at it..I tryed presure light pressure and still i was just lacking that max ...I found with hevey slurry the la grise does not slurry dull i just find that there absalutley slow with water . the belgium blue i have loads more success with ...