Bart
Well-Known Member
Gentlemen,
N° 11 is a reddish Coticule from the "La Dressante" Layer. A hard stone, that takes a bit more work to raise a slurry. It's fast. I would recommend it to a carpenter of a cook, but it puts a very sharp edge on a razor too. If you like crispy edges that laugh at a coarse beard, this Coticule is your friend. If however you have ultra sensitive skin, and are looking for smoothness before anything else, look at n°15...
N°11 and n°15, are as far apart in the Coticule spectrum as it gets. (Please remember that they both are Coticules and that differences in the final edge are only discrete)
N°15 comes from the "La Grosse Blanche" layer. When exposed to air (and light?) they discolor to a dull brown, as can be seen at the sides of the hone. It's probably some form of oxidation. "La Grosse Blanche" is reasonably soft, densely packed with very fine garnets. It's fast and the slurry thickens to a soapy, or even a toothpaste-like (if you aren't careful) texture. The level of polish is one of the finest you'll ever get off a Coticule. There's a lot of slurry-dulling. Coming off slurry, expect the edges to barely shave. It takes very slow and precise dilution to get good keenness. Or a quick and easy Unicot procedure.
N°15 creates ultimately smooth edges. Lacking the slightest hint of bite, such edges need to be honed to perfect keenness in order to shave well. If you leave the slightest bit of keenness behind, the edge will not shave well, but still leaves your skin unharmed. Alum doesn't sting with an edge off this Coticule. This is not a hone for an inexperienced honer.
In a very inaccurate way of speech, with n°11 you get a fast cutter and a fine finisher. There's not that big a gap to cross. With n°15, you'll get a very fast cutter and an ultra-fine finisher. The gap is a gaping abyss.
N° 11 is a reddish Coticule from the "La Dressante" Layer. A hard stone, that takes a bit more work to raise a slurry. It's fast. I would recommend it to a carpenter of a cook, but it puts a very sharp edge on a razor too. If you like crispy edges that laugh at a coarse beard, this Coticule is your friend. If however you have ultra sensitive skin, and are looking for smoothness before anything else, look at n°15...
N°11 and n°15, are as far apart in the Coticule spectrum as it gets. (Please remember that they both are Coticules and that differences in the final edge are only discrete)
N°15 comes from the "La Grosse Blanche" layer. When exposed to air (and light?) they discolor to a dull brown, as can be seen at the sides of the hone. It's probably some form of oxidation. "La Grosse Blanche" is reasonably soft, densely packed with very fine garnets. It's fast and the slurry thickens to a soapy, or even a toothpaste-like (if you aren't careful) texture. The level of polish is one of the finest you'll ever get off a Coticule. There's a lot of slurry-dulling. Coming off slurry, expect the edges to barely shave. It takes very slow and precise dilution to get good keenness. Or a quick and easy Unicot procedure.
N°15 creates ultimately smooth edges. Lacking the slightest hint of bite, such edges need to be honed to perfect keenness in order to shave well. If you leave the slightest bit of keenness behind, the edge will not shave well, but still leaves your skin unharmed. Alum doesn't sting with an edge off this Coticule. This is not a hone for an inexperienced honer.
In a very inaccurate way of speech, with n°11 you get a fast cutter and a fine finisher. There's not that big a gap to cross. With n°15, you'll get a very fast cutter and an ultra-fine finisher. The gap is a gaping abyss.
: Makes me think of that one Seinfeld episode. So how are you going to make that a trifecta? It doesn't involve Bart, does it?