Just a thought about finishing

**rickboone1** · 08-06-2010, 09:57 PM

Which, in your mind and/ or experiences produces the sharpest and smoothest edge?

1. finish on coticule with water only
2. on all pastes .25, .5, CrOx
3. on CrOx only after 8k/ 10k or coticule
4. finish on 16K after coticule.

**azmark** · 08-06-2010, 10:18 PM

It's all subjective of course but paste after coticule is what I use and really enjoy.

**rickboone1** · 08-06-2010, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by azmark

It's all subjective of course but paste after coticule is what I use and really enjoy.

This is true, but I am finding a much harsher feeling edge than just coming straight off the coticule. Feels jagged-like. How do you do your progression?

**Walker** · 08-06-2010, 10:39 PM

I hear good things about lapping films, Rick

**Leche** · 08-06-2010, 10:44 PM

I do about 50 laps on the Chinese 12k. It's slow but produces a buttery smooth edge. After I hone I do 30 laps on my cotton that is loaded with Dovo white paste and then 50 laps on the latigo which is perfect for me.

**azmark** · 08-06-2010, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by rickboone1

This is true, but I am finding a much harsher feeling edge than just coming straight off the coticule. Feels jagged-like. How do you do your progression?

I've never had an issue with coming off the coticule but it's all to ones preference. I use the unicot method with two coticules I have. In the last pass with water in the unicot method I bring out a coticule that produces a finer edge and I use that one. Some times I'll leave just off the coticule and water but lately I pass it on Dovo white paste then either crox on balsa or .50 pasted strop. I also use my Kiita or Asagi through progression and finish on water alone.

In all honesty I don't notice too much of a difference after water on coticule or Jnat stones. The pastes are just experiments but seem to give it a slight smoothness to it.

**LessLemming** · 08-07-2010, 03:53 AM

Any of these combinations should give you comfortable edges.
If not, youre doing something wrong.
People don´t understand that it´s not so much the finisher
(Oh! Coticule here, Shapton 16k there) but about the propriety of the whole sharpening process.
Once this is realized it is possible to get very good shaves coming off a proper 8k stone.

This being said I really enjoy stepping to a nice Coticule,
a Nakayama or a fine paste after I achieved comfortable shaving edges on any 8k.
This will not so much improve the shave. It´s just for the fun of it.
Shaves do not get better than 'good'.
And this can be achieved with normal progressions without expensive finishers.

After one of these expensive finishers, the shaving experience may eventually change slightly,
but it won´t get noticably better.
I dare most (if not any) will not be able to make out a difference in shaving with a razor sharpend on :
a.) an 8k with Croox
b.) an 8k with 0.5 diamond
c.) a Coticule with Cr or Dia
d.) a 600USD Nakayama with Cr or dia (or even without)

**SliceOfLife** · 08-08-2010, 02:06 PM

Any significant amount of abraded material being pushed toward the edge at the final stages of polishing is not ideal, so I stick to stones. Coticules work fine, as should any quality 16k Synthetic.

**honed** · 08-08-2010, 11:27 PM

The epitome of combining sharpness & smoothness for me is finishing on a coti with water once the razor is sharp enough
How you get there is a matter of preference.
My preference is coti all the way, dilucot or unicot.
From the alternatives listed I'd say finish with the coti after the 16K synthetic.

**wdwrx** · 08-09-2010, 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by honed

The epitome of combining sharpness & smoothness for me is finishing on a coti with water once the razor is sharp enough
How you get there is a matter of preference.
My preference is coti all the way, dilucot or unicot.
From the alternatives listed I'd say finish with the coti after the 16K synthetic.

This.
After spending 6 weeks beating the dilucot to death, i finally understood that it just wasn't sharp enough coming off my coti. I use my spydercoUF to get the edge DE sharp, and then back to the coti for that famous coti edge.

**Bart** · 08-10-2010, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by honed

The epitome of combining sharpness & smoothness for me is finishing on a coti with water once the razor is sharp enough
How you get there is a matter of preference.
My preference is coti all the way, dilucot or unicot.
From the alternatives listed I'd say finish with the coti after the 16K synthetic.

Count me in on that. Those few lines say it all, really.

**honed** · 08-10-2010, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by Bart

Count me in on that. Those few lines say it all, really.

Well, it was kind of easy to nail it down to those few lines.
See, I had the greatest teacher, a Belgian fellow, a very nice guy, always willing to lend a helping hand to a struggling beginner.
Not only is the helpful, he's also completely hooked on some special type of old rock. Really cool guy, perhaps you know him

**danjared** · 08-10-2010, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by Bart

Count me in on that. Those few lines say it all, really.

Bart, I thought you were on vacation. Or is that just your website?

**Harvitz81** · 08-14-2010, 07:27 PM

So basically A coticule is all I need (in addition to a bevel setter)? Why do so many people go to CrOx after the finisher? I really like the appeal of just using something natural.

**azmark** · 08-14-2010, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Harvitz81

So basically A coticule is all I need (in addition to a bevel setter)? Why do so many people go to CrOx after the finisher? I really like the appeal of just using something natural.

Finishing is just preference; there are many roads that lead to Rome. Crox is just an added measure of smoothness, I personally don't notice much or any difference in shaving ability. A finish on a good coticule is just as good as any finish but no matter what it depends on the person shaving with the razor.

**danjared** · 08-14-2010, 08:14 PM

Chrome oxide is often also used when someone is still learning to compensate for the lacking last bit of keenness. And as azmark said, some people just prefer it as a finisher. I believe one of the reasons that Bart came up with unicot is to allow someone who is still learning to use their coticule to get a great coticule finish and not have to rely on other finishers.

**Harvitz81** · 08-14-2010, 08:23 PM

Cool, thanks for the replies guys. Have my coticule and am getting my bevel setter (DMT 325, 600 and 1200 set) so I will hopefully soon be trying my hand at honing. Have plenty of junkers around to learn on.

Reason I asked was I am going to sell my ruprazor filly and didn't have anything else with CrOx around so just wanted to make sure it wasn't needed.

**danjared** · 08-14-2010, 08:30 PM

For what it's worth, you could also get by with just one of the DMT Fine or Extra-Fine. Having both is nice, though. Also, given my hone collection, I'm not necessarily one who can push the minimalist approach...

**Harvitz81** · 08-14-2010, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by danjared

For what it's worth, you could also get by with just one of the DMT Fine or Extra-Fine. Having both is nice, though. Also, given my hone collection, I'm not necessarily one who can push the minimalist approach...

I'm only getting the set as you can purchase all three for $56. Plus I want the 325 for lapping and the 600 for hard to set bevels, while the 1200 might get the most use. Plus, what is HAD for if you don't feed it

**danjared** · 08-14-2010, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Harvitz81

I'm only getting the set as you can purchase all three for $56. Plus I want the 325 for lapping and the 600 for hard to set bevels, while the 1200 might get the most use. Plus, what is HAD for if you don't feed it

Woah, excuse my language, where the hell did you get a great deal like that?! PM me please!