NO LUCK SO FAR

[Bart]

If you cut that new bevel on regular slurry, then Dilucot, there does not occur a sharpening benefit as presented by that narrow secondary bevel of the Unicot method.
It's possible that the razor likes the steeper bevel angle a bit better, but I think you just were in top form today, Gary.

By the way: you're quite right about slurry_thickness/sharpness_outcome being very dependable on the Coticule in question. That is precisely where I rate it in the Vault form + to +++. It's one of the major difference found in Coticules.

Ray, you own hone n°2 of the Vault, that leaves an already very sharp edge off slurry (the highest I ever encountered actually B) ). So you can (and probably should) use a denser slurry. On the other side of the spectrum we have speed kings like the "La Petite Blanches" and the backside of "La Nouvelle Veine", that shave zilch, when coming off anything denser than thin slurry. But they move steel like no tomorrow.
That's why I always advice people who use a Coticule that I haven't used myself, to perform a fair number of regular X-strokes on a not too dense slurry, before performing an arm hair test. Soon enough Medic484 will know how his Coticule behaves on slurry, and it'll be of no further consequence.

Best regards,
Bart.

 

[garyhaywood]

That's what i do, after thick slurry on my nu 3, after half strokes i perform 10 to 20 x strokes. Then i test on arm hair, also i had a drop of water.

 

[medic484]

my bout is La petite blanche

 

[mitchshrader]

(@ Bart) I have never before wanted someone to examine my whetstones and help me understand their nature. I'm curious if such a service would be feasible,
and whether you'ld care to examine any stones beside coticules (for purposes of direct comparison).

I'm not expecting 'free'.

 

[Bart]

my bout is La petite blanche

Indeed, looking at your pictures that seems most likely.

(@ Bart) I have never before wanted someone to examine my whetstones and help me understand their nature. I'm curious if such a service would be feasible,
and whether you'ld care to examine any stones beside coticules (for purposes of direct comparison).

I'm not expecting 'free'.

I don't offer any payed services. But that does not mean that I wouldn't want to help out with determining the properties of your hones. I'm not sure if you considered the cost to ship them back and forth to Belgium, but if that's no a problem, and you have time, I'm willing to run some comparative tests. Note however that hones may behave differently according to their purpose. A hone that delivers certain results on a narrow strip of hard razor's steel, may behave very differently on the wide bevel of a HS steel cutter blade. It might be best to narrow down a comparison to a small group of hones and a particular use. Even the method of use must be taken into account.

It's best to contact me privately (you can use the members list in the "Machine Room" to contact fellow members), and we'll see if we can come up with a meaningful and feasible approach.

Kind regards,
Bart.

 

[mitchshrader]

I much appreciate your kind and civil response.

I may be overly nervous about the process of applying naked steel to the area of my carotid artery, and merely trying to be as informed as possible. No doubt other novices experience similar qualms. It's no lack of stones to examine that would incline me to wait a while, it's lack of foundation to as yet ask good questions.

I think I should start a stone journal, with pictures and commentary; a scrapbook of informed opinions as I encounter them. I have stones from several countries and their abilities and limits are various. It's doubtful I can remember the relevant bits perfectly, and others may benefit. It's a place to keep my wish list, too. Then I could sort out stones with questions attached and solicit analysis.

One stone acquired randomly, Ebay I think, appears to have a polymer resin substrate, VERY hard, like Corian imitation granite, VERY dense & heavy.
The appearance is a slightly muddy 'cafe mit schlag', 8x2x1, some fine and agressive abrasive. It's not per se a waterstone, impenetrable, and lube softens the abrasiveness but makes no slurry. No visible wear after some hours of use, harder even than a coticule. Obviously synthetic but the abrasive part puzzles me, it NEARLY acts like ultra-fine diamond. Very small and hard, whatever it is, and somewhat comparable to the DMT 8K in feel, moreso than the smoothness of a coticule. I have been puzzled by it since I acquired it. Wish I knew more, and someone does.

My incipient razor hone, my 'bragging' Coticule, has an odor of fresh turned earth after a light spring rain, whenever I first wet it. It's strong enough I notice it every time and it makes me smile. The others don't, or at least minimally, and I wonder if that smell is associated with the fact the stone is nearly white, and not yellow/cream..Bone color rather than pure white, I knew I'd pin down that color eventually. I can only ask you to check any other coticule of similar shade you encounter for that smell..as THAT one isn't leaving my hands just yet.

I think the time has come for the quarry to rethink the use of slate. In spite of the fact currency rates have raised prices, the increasing popularity of straights will support higher prices for BBW/Coticule combos, natural or glued. If the quarry knew how much aftermarket prices were for combo stones I think they'd reconsider. They're leaving a lot of money on the table, and it won't hurt ME if prices go up, or you either. Compared to Japanese stones a (glued) 8x3 BBW/Coticule would be CHEAP, even if prices doubled. JMHO, but they should CHECK, I'm not mistaken about how many potential customers remain blissfully unaware of coticules, and such a stone would be somewhat overkill for razors, but perfect for 9" blade RC65 Laminated single bevel knives. You'ld need little else.

so pictures and descriptions. I'll curse the day I said it, I have LOTS of rocks...

 

[Bart]

I' ve read that post twice. I like your as lyrical as spot-on descriptions of hones. "Freshly turned earth after a light spring rain" Only a Coticule owner can come up with such a poetical description of a hone. And only a Coticule owner can truly recognize such a statement...

I understand your plea for gluing to BBW. There is something about those vintage Coticules, cut with the manual power of 2 guys at either side of the stone-saw, joined together with beeswax/hideglue. As natural and organic as can be. I'm exactly into that shit, but there's something energetically fitting in a BBW/Coticule combo. Something like two poles of a magnet. Yin and Yang if you want. Something that's not quite so balanced in a Portuguese slate/Coticule combo, bonded together with tile cement. Earlier today, before reading Mitch' post, I was pondering over Coticules and how they could be made, to be more than the excellent utensil they are, to be no only function but also form. An inspiring artifact to cherished and displayed for the pleasure of those who appreciate perfection in harmony. Or harmony in perfection. I see such a stone in front of my imagination. And I see the cabinet in which it will be displayed.

What I don't see, are the commercial consideration. Personally, I detest how, in present times, commercial reflexes have to smudge every aspect of human activity. On demand, I believe Ardennes will glue a Coticule to a BBW. I know they've done that on request at least once. If you pay for the BBW and for the slab of Coticule used, there will be no problem. Yet there is no practical benefit to own them glued together, over owning them separate. There's just an estaethic and spriritual benefit. That benefit should be transpired by passion. Not out by profit.
Maybe I will order the pieces to build such an artefact Coticule myself. Or seek the services of a skilled artist to do so. But talking about razor honing, I don't recommend people to buy a combination hone. A Coticule will do. Perhaps a Blue only will do just fine too. (where currently investigating that). But a BBW is a pretty redundant stone for a Coticule owner, who's only sharpening razors. For tool and knife use, I consider a BBW a competent Coticule replacement, slower and without the benefit of the creamy color (that shows what's going on so well).

For a closing thought: Mitch, I am convinced that you owe many hones that qualify to get a razor "shaveready". It's much more a matter of skill than of tools, whether you'll be able to reach the "shaveready realm". Different tools may yield small differences in how the possible edges feel and treat your skin, but they will all deliver a trouble-free shave, that, no matter which one you eventually stick with, will eventually "grow" on you, as your shaving technique tunes in with it.

Bart.