Thread: Honing a Wacker only with coticules

I aquired a new Wacker (DORKO) and it was sharp so-so...
Ok I started taping the spine, started with the BBW with and without slurry, the yellow coticule with slurry, then diluting the slurry more and more, then I went to the Naniwa 12000 SS, 10 laps on chromoxide on strop, finishing with plain leather some 50 laps.
It still didn't shave like I wanted.
I presumed microchipping was the culprit.
I restarted the honing process with only the 2 belgian coticules, some laps on the chromoxide and then plain leather: now it gave the best shave I ever had!
I really can't understand what went wrong in the first process: was it microchipping?
Anyway, the coticules proved once again how superior they are and this Wacker razor became one of my best razor.

It is good to have some sort of decent magnification. This way you will know if you have micro chipping or not. Maybe doing the BBW with slurry and the yellow with water only would have brought the results you wanted to begin with ? I like a Naniwa 12k but perhaps the famously comfortable edge of the coticule is more to your liking.

Get the radioshack magnifier , The wackers I have honed in the past have prefered the natural stones as well. But then again I prefer the naturals.

You don't say how many passes on the 12k SS so you may have overhoned the first time or not honed enough. It is easier to assess if you look at your edges under magnification. In any case your second attempt has corrected the problem & it was not likely the hones so much but how you used them.

I did only 10, light laps on the Naniwa 12K.
In both sessions I used the coticules in the same way.
It's like the Naniwa 12K in this particular case ( on the Wacker) caused microchipping.
Normally, on all other razors, after using the Naniwa 12K I get the best shaves.
It seems that the Wacker razor doesn't like synthetic stones.
But how is it possible? In fact this was part of my first post above, I wanted to know what happened and why. The Naniwa destroyed the result of the honing session obtained with the coticules. A new session with coticules alone gave then the best shave.

How do you know the Naniwa destroyed the edge ? Did you shave off the first lot of Belgian honing, were satisfied, then proceeded to the 12k & retested ? I'm saying it may just be a cumulative benefit since you rehoned. Now you know it shaves well do 5-10 light laps on the Naniwa & compare the results. That may tell you something.

I hate coticule's & slurry! Bart uses them successfully to set bevels, but not anywhere near the end of honing AFAIK. Next time try going back to the BBW with a thick slurry, then the coticule with just water to polish. At this point, strop & try a shave. If it's still not where you want it move on to the Naniwa's & paste's.
I love my natural combination BBW/Coticule. I got it from Sham when i first arrived here & i can't see me ever parting with it now.
Glad your perseverance paid off.

Thanks to all.
I read somewhere in another forum that indeed Wacker razors don't go well with synthetic hones.
I presume that it was indeed the cause and why the result with the coticules gave a wonderful edge.

I suspect the razor might have ended up a tad overhoned where it will shave but not the best. I used to use the Coticule with water after coming off the Norton 8K and for some time I shaved right off it. Later I added the pastes. I have always contented that a good Coticule is really probably closer to 10K vs. 8K, hence the decent finish. I would not see the need to go to the 12K after finishing on a coticule.

Lynn

Originally Posted by kingreverent

I did only 10, light laps on the Naniwa 12K.
In both sessions I used the coticules in the same way.
It's like the Naniwa 12K in this particular case ( on the Wacker) caused microchipping.
Normally, on all other razors, after using the Naniwa 12K I get the best shaves.
It seems that the Wacker razor doesn't like synthetic stones.
But how is it possible? In fact this was part of my first post above, I wanted to know what happened and why. The Naniwa destroyed the result of the honing session obtained with the coticules. A new session with coticules alone gave then the best shave.

Thanks Lynn.
But why then do I get the best shaves after using the Naniwa 12K or Spyderco UF on my other razors? I presume that it has something to do with the particular steel of the Wacker razor.