Thread: 8x3 Yellow Coticule from Howard

I bought this one recently from Howard.

First of all the price: at a 175$ it wasn't exactly cheap, but for a large finishing hone it was not too expensive. Howard certainly has the best prices of all the places I've looked at for coticules this size.

Then the preparation: it was not flat, and neither were the edges rounded. But then again I consider that normal, as this is how they are delivered by the quarry. I've had the same experience with a smaller coticule I bought in a brick and mortar shop.
I lapped it using the pencil grid method under running water, using my also new DMT 325 grit 8" diamond plate which I also used to round the edges.
I rubbed it with the palm of my hand under running water to make sure it was smooth.

I tested it on 2 razors: a 6/8 pearson hollow ground, and a 11/16 Puma wedge.
Of course, I tested it after honing on the Norton 4000/8000 first. Both razors passed the TPT, after which I did a final 3/3 1/3 1/5 pyramid for good measure.

That is where the coticule comes in: I splashed some water on top and lightly rubbed its surface with a small coticule rubbing stone to make a light slury.
I did 15 laps with slurry, until the razor seemed to undercut the water.
With this I mean that the water and slurry seemed to stay still with the razor gliding underneath it without disturbing the water.
It is important at this stage to use only the weight of the razor, because coticule slurry can be pretty abrasive.

Then I rinsed off the slurry and did 10 laps with water only.
The feeling of the stone was as smooth as glass, and unlike the other coticules I've tried so far.

I used the pearson on a 4 day beard, and it zipped right through the growth. I did 2 WTG passes and 1 ATG (second WTG was water only), and I was really smooth with no irritation whatsoever. Even splashing on the boss aftershave brought only coolness. 'The boss' never lets me get away with even minor errors so I knew the shave was really good.

The Puma went through 2 days worth of stubble, which was shorter than normal because of the closeness of the previous shave.
Again no effort, and perfect results.

These are among the sharpest edges I ever made, and with no problems at all. I am confident that my investment in this stone was a good decision, and can recommend Howard's coticules to everybody.

Some of the other blade honers around here recommend using the stone dry or with water only. For some reason the slurry does not produce a sharp edge.

I have also read reveiws that while the couticle is a good stone an escher or dmt 8000 will perform better. The spyderco stones are a cheap alternative as they seem to do a fine job as well. Just my thoughts.

The water and light slurry work fine for me.

I did not mention any of those other stones because this is a simple review, not a product comparison. I have none of the stones you mention, nor any other finishing stone for that matter.

Thank you Bruno for a very informative Review, I have been considering getting a natural stone progression, and have talked to Howard about the Yellow Coticle... Thanks for telling me more about it... I already have a man-made progression and have been using that with great success, but I understand that the natural stones have a totally different sharpening style....

Originally Posted by Bruno

The water and light slurry work fine for me.

I did not mention any of those other stones because this is a simple review, not a product comparison. I have none of the stones you mention, nor any other finishing stone for that matter.

I seem to have lost sight of the fact that I was reading a product review. Sorry.

Thanks Bruno, sounds like a fantastic (and large!) coticule that works great.

Very nice. I think I'll be ordering a large coticule from him soon. I like my 6x2, but I think I'd like an 8x2 or 8x3 even more.

You will love it; the blade just glides to sharpness off this stone.

I just want to chime in and also sing the coticule's praise. I do not have the 8x3, but I do have the 6x2 blue/yellow combo. I consider this and Tony Miller's strop to be the two best investments I have made to date concerning straights. You will not be disapointed.

I am a little shocked that you had to flatten the stone and chamfer the edges as Howard does this before he sends out any of his stones! I know my 6 x 2 came flattened and chamfered.