JNAT vs. FILM Edge - Scientific data? No. Opinionated drivel? Yes.

[lindyhop66]

As a beginner straight razor user, I was able to hone some straights with lapping film pretty quickly and easily. I have JNATs and a coticule but wasn't able to get these straights honed with either of them. I watched all the videos, but just couldn't do it.

I think the lapping film edge is very sharp, almost surgical as someone said and on some of my razors may feel a bit overly sharp. Would using a JNAT or coticule with water tone it down to smooth...or a barber's hone...or just more linen and leather stropping?

[paco664]

As a beginner straight razor user, I was able to hone some straights with lapping film pretty quickly and easily. I have JNATs and a coticule but wasn't able to get these straights honed with either of them. I watched all the videos, but just couldn't do it.

I think the lapping film edge is very sharp, almost surgical as someone said and on some of my razors may feel a bit overly sharp. Would using a JNAT or coticule with water tone it down to smooth...or a barber's hone...or just more linen and leather stropping?

i'll take the jnats off your hands.... :evilgrin:....

[Obiwan]

Would using a JNAT or coticule with water tone it down to smooth...or a barber's hone...or just more linen and leather stropping?

I'd say no to the barbers hone, but it might be worth a very, very thin slurry on your jnat with a drop or two of dilution as things progess. I have found that will generally smooth things out a bit. Give it a try.

[Seraphim]

As a beginner straight razor user, I was able to hone some straights with lapping film pretty quickly and easily. I have JNATs and a coticule but wasn't able to get these straights honed with either of them. I watched all the videos, but just couldn't do it.

I think the lapping film edge is very sharp, almost surgical as someone said and on some of my razors may feel a bit overly sharp. Would using a JNAT or coticule with water tone it down to smooth...or a barber's hone...or just more linen and leather stropping?

What level film did you finish on?

1um, 0.3um?

[shakin_jake]

As a beginner straight razor user, I was able to hone some straights with lapping film pretty quickly and easily. I have JNATs and a coticule but wasn't able to get these straights honed with either of them. I watched all the videos, but just couldn't do it.

I think the lapping film edge is very sharp, almost surgical as someone said and on some of my razors may feel a bit overly sharp. Would using a JNAT or coticule with water tone it down to smooth...or a barber's hone...or just more linen and leather stropping?

~~~Hi!, Jake here...just perusing some threads.... wanted to *give back* and make a comment or two why you're struggling with natural stones. Honing using laping film is ridiculously easy and pretty much does not require a skill set. Some may call it mindless honing, but I digress. The fact is, you can get a good edge right outta the box with film, and if all you're after is a sharp razor, who cares how you got there?

Honing using natural stones is way different. There is a skill set involved, which is a learned process, unlike honing on film. if you take the same razor and correct the bevels (not sure how you are doing that) and go through your progression on film and it's shave ready yet when you go through your progression on natural stones and the edge is not there (despite your efforts), you're rushing through your dilutions too quickly. IOW, you're not spending enough time at each stage before moving on to the next

If you truly want to learn how to go from dull to shave ready using your coticule, you can get there, but you're going to have to carefully read (if you follow my advice) the article I'll provide a link to and successful you'll be. Here's the link I want you to read-

http://www.coticule.be/dilucot-honing-method.html

that was written by Bart Torfs and it comes from his site coticule.be here's another link you should fully read

http://www.coticule.be/straight-razor-honing.html

Actually, that link is an index, but if you want to learn how to hone using natural stones, trust me, you need to read each and every one of those articles. I've read each one 5 or 6 times anyways, maybe more (I'm not kidding!).

Often when a honing n00b says they're having trouble with a coticule, I'll post those links. The coticule sharpening academy is truly the bible when it comes to honing using Belgian coticules, & FWIW, I would put the J-Nat away until you can come up with a sharp razor using Dilucot time after time.

Yes!, sharpen a razor ala dilucot, shave with it to test it, then dull it on glass and perform anothger dilucot. (knowing how to perform HHT will help immensely, & perform HHT coming off the stone and after stropping). This is how you learn to hone on coticule. Practice, Practice, Practice. Honing on coticules is not mindless honing. You need to learn how and if you are on your own with no one to teach you sitting by your side, then you'll have to study the technique by reading


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

[Obiwan]

^ Good advice right here. Nice job Jake.

[Seraphim]

[Obiwan]

[Doc226]

That is just Darwin at work.

[joshua1970]

Yes!, sharpen a razor ala dilucot, shave with it to test it, then dull it on glass and perform anothger dilucot. (knowing how to perform HHT will help immensely, & perform HHT coming off the stone and after stropping). This is how you learn to hone on coticule. Practice, Practice, Practice. Honing on coticules is not mindless honing. You need to learn how and if you are on your own with no one to teach you sitting by your side, then you'll have to study the technique by reading

those pages have been tremendously helpful, and I still don't think I've got the cotis down despite practicing daily for weeks - though i will say that oil on the final finishing laps w/o pressure makes a huge difference on the keeness of the smooth coti edge. just don't tell anyone LOL

That is just Darwin at work.

That Darwin is a busy mofo!!