Small Coti Questions

[jcborr00]

I just bought a small Coti (30mmx75mm) as a touch-up hone. I have never used a coti before but have great experiences with other smaller hones ex(1/4 norton 4k/8k) I have been ridiculed on the "other forum" for bringing up a subjects like this (they do not like any other way but their way) and was wondering if anyone here has experiences with small cotis.

I haven't seen much on these smaller hones with the exception of a few touch-ups.

Has anyone used a smaller hone to set the bevel and progress to "shave ready" status?

 

[Nobody]

I have one just a touch larger and have used it that way. It works, but isn't my favorite way to do it. I'll typically bevel on a larger stone. Give it a try! Cotis are interesting rocks. If nothing else, it's a convenient size for hand work in front of the idiot box.

 

[Gamma]

I prefer larger Cotis - 175 x 40 or bigger.
The smallest I've enjoyed using was 125 x 45.
I have a 100 x 20mm Verte - I keep forgetting it's here. I don't use it because it's too short and too narrow.
But - I've used it as a touch up stone and it worked out well. I used to keep it in the bathroom for that purpose actually.

 

[Wid]

That's a small one for sure. I've touched up a razor using a slurry stone before just for the hell of it. It can be done but is more of a challenge to do.

 

[danjared]

I don't regularly use coticules that small, although I do have a small, very fast La Dressante slurry stone that I do halfstrokes on if I find I need to concentrate on small areas of the edge, like the heel, which is hard to single out on many larger stones. I wish I had a larger natural combo stone like that slurry stone. It's pretty, very hard and very fast, so it would probably be wonderful for knives. Other than that, the smallest coticule I regularly use has a 125mm by 40mm surface. I used have more that were narrower but longer. I had one that I believe was 200mm by 16mm that was nice to use. Sometimes I'll use the sides of natural combos, too, if I need something narrow.

 

[jkh]

Circles! Maybe not for touch-ups, but circles work great for working on slurry when length is limited. X-strokes are a lot of pulling the blade across the stone with much less travel along the length (this makes perfect sense in my head).

 

[TZee]

Half x-strokes work great in this scenario. Do 25-40 repetitions with slurry on one side, and repeat on the other side. Once you cut arm hair, you can go straight to water, repeating the same process.As mentioned, it's easier to set the bevel elsewhere; however, you asked if it was possible.

 

[Pkrankow]

I am sure you *COULD* set bevel and take to shave ready on that little bout, but I wouldn't want to try. I have a similar sized bout I bought as a travel stone and to try La Verte. Honing on slurry from a not quite shave ready anymore blade to sharp is doable, if you don't have to work the bevel back into shape. I would use a different hone to set the bevel and take the blade to the first stages of polishing. I had other, larger coticule at the time I would get to the finishing stages then 100 laps on the bout, water only, to shave ready.

I bought a 50x150 La Verte because I love the edge, I still use my little bout for honing on the road, but not much, and only for slurry at home.

Phil

 

[Brownbear]

I prefer the narrow widths. Yours is a bit smaller than I normally use but I think it would work fine for touch ups.

 

[jeness]

Hmm, that hone is really small. Hones like these can be used, but they are very uncomfortable for me. The width isn't really the matter, length is for me. I wouldn't want to hone on anything smaller than a 5x1" thuri for example, and only for finishing with a few laps on clear water.

A full honing progression on a 75x30mm coti with slurry would feel like travelling 200 miles with 7 other people in a 5 person car. Can be done, but I would never do it if I would have any other choice.

 

[danjared]

The vast majority of razors are somewhere between 2.5" and 3" in length at the edge. I personally have no issue with doing an x-stroke that covers the full edge on a 150mm by 40mm hone, since these stones are about twice the length and half the width of a typical razor's edge. A three inch long stone gets interesting, since the angle of the stroke is 45 degrees or greater relative to the long axis of the stone (and depending on how close to the ends of the stone you get and the exact length of the razor's edge).

If a quarter size Norton waterstone is cut into quadrants, it'd be somewhere around 37mm by 100mm, so it'd be larger than a 30" by 75mm coticule, but it's still in roughly the same range.

 

[jcborr00]

I haven't tried yet but will this week with one of my dull razors. I am a little broke and Jarrod had some small ones at a great price so I figure I would try it out.

 

[Wid]

If you are short on $$ have you thought of lapping film for honing?

 

[danjared]

Belgian Blue whetstones are a great alternative too if budget's the issue.

 

[jcborr00]

If you are short on $$ have you thought of lapping film for honing?

I have heard great things about lapping film. I think I am going to try that too. Any links on how to use and where to purchase some?

 

[Wid]

PM me your address and I'll send ya some, 5,3 and 1um.

 

[Obiwan]

I have several small stone that I enjoy using. They are a fun way to try different types out with little cost. Using them is clearly not for everyone, but if you can get used to the small real estate, they can be fun too.

The "Other Place" may not agree, but you can most certainly get a nice edge off of a smaller stone. Here's one of my favorite small stones for reference.

 

[Legion]

I have a little slim La Verte which I bought for "trouble blades" which the bigger stones can't contact properly. They work, you just need a steady hand and more time.