Thread: Why does my new coticule feel like I'm honing on gravel?

I would be thinking more of something like Silica crystal inclusion than garnet.

So I got one of those from Ardennes


.

Silly thing feels like a motorcycle going across uneven railroad tracks.
I ride with the lines no sensation, I go across the lines feel my teeth chatter.
Fine as a finisher. Slurry a circles lightly maybe, I got tired of chipping up a perfectly good edge try to use the thing.
Went back to the pink one or a BBW.

I have a LVRR that is from the new vein I think. It has always felt a little rough. Though yesterday I did use some 1200 grit sandpaper and made it a bit smoother. Well I went from 400, 800 and 1200 seemed to help. The edge did not appear that bad, but it was not a smooth shave. I looked at it later and it did have a few chips. Anyway, glad you posted this since I know I am not alone in this matter.

Would I be able to see microchips with a simple handheld loupe? Or would I need something with more magnifying power?

It would be dependent upon the size of the chips. I dont get all technical about it. Can I see it with a naked eye? Can I feel it when I run the blade along my thumbnail? Yes then its a chip. NO then its micro. Simple answer is use this stone with just water. garnets stay stuck. A few extra laps will knock off the sharp edges and you get as good as it gets with this stone.
It is not a bad stone. I just paid to much for Ardennens for an average coticule of small size.
Their mine is not running full steam ahead.
There is plenty of good stone down there, its just not cost effective to go an get it.
Fancy speak says if the micro chipping is all even along the edge its toothy and gives a better shave. Very high magnification to see tooth. Striated at a nano level more edges along bevel apex grab more hair resulting in closer shave.

The chips on the image (ca. 200x) are visible with the naked eye, but you need a very good eye. Be careful with sharp blades...
I think optimal is a magnification of 150x-200x. I'm certainly no Coticule expert, but meanwhile I have tried 8 different Cotis. None has caused such chips. Curios, when I rub the stone with the supplied hard slurrystone and wash the slurry away, there are no toxic inclusions noticeable. They appear only after a few strokes on plain water. I think this is a very rare phenomenon.

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

So I got one of those from Ardennes


.

Silly thing feels like a motorcycle going across uneven railroad tracks.
I ride with the lines no sensation, I go across the lines feel my teeth chatter.
Fine as a finisher. Slurry a circles lightly maybe, I got tired of chipping up a perfectly good edge try to use the thing.
Went back to the pink one or a BBW.

I'll take it off your hands

When I look very closely at the cutting edge with a simple loupe, I'm seeing very very tiny spots/chips at the shaving edge coming right off the hone, whereas in other places of the razor the 'line' that's the edge looks more straight. I don't have a big magnifier so I can't confirm for sure how it looks.
Maybe this is normal coming off a Coticule, maybe not, I can't tell for sure since I've never taken this close a look coming off any Coti.
Linen + leather seemed to have made it better, but it's not entirely gone. Hmmmz. It's a little shame the petas surface feels like this, because this is one of the, if not the most skin friendliest edge I've ever experienced. I'll shave with this razor tonight, but couple days ago I also shaved with it and it did seem to not shave as smoothly as I had liked, a little tuggy it felt.
I really wished I had a microscope, but a shave test is all that matters in the end. The blade has had a good honing session + good stropping so the shave will be the judge tonight.

I get a similar sensation off of this BBW, but no chips on my edges.

Got this beauty (8x3") with extra bluish cast. It had grainy tendencies first but after a decent lapping it is absolutely smooth. The edges are excellent, I think it is my best Coti due to ease to reach the perfect edge. The Les Petas from the 1st picture is always a bit grainy but the edges are excellent too.