Thread: Fresh wild caught coti

My latest Coti, picked up at a flea market along with a 1/2 dozen SR's all for $20.00 La Dressante I presume as its a natural combo and has the manganese spots (although feint) 3x5x1 stone very hard, difficult to raise a slurry on even with my diamond plate.

Also noticed a peculiar thing, I was glancing at it with a flashlight in the dark and surprised at how much the garnets sparkle compared to my other coti's even on the blue side.

Still trying to get the hang of it, my other 3x5 I just got the hang of which is softer and really feels like your doing something when honing on a slurry, unlike the one here in the photos, even with slurry it feels like your not doing much, I guess that could be good???

Now all I needs a a slurry stone to go with it, since it is so hard, would I want to make sure I get another La Dressante? or can I raise the slurry on any of my other Coti's (I know I can use diamond plate, but that is no fun)

Originally Posted by sidmind

My latest Coti, picked up at a flea market along with a 1/2 dozen SR's all for $20.00 La Dressante I presume as its a natural combo and has the manganese spots (although feint) 3x5x1 stone very hard, difficult to raise a slurry on even with my diamond plate.

That's a very nice looking coticule you have there, and a pretty good score overall. I would be very hesitant as to venture a guess on the vein, as you bought it at a flee market. This most likely means it hasn't been recently mined ("vintage" if you like, "old" if you're not that particular) ergo vein identification is nigh impossible as accurate vein morphology is only known for the Tier d'ol Preu mining location (apart from the Les Petas layer, which Ardennes Coticule has recently started mining again at the Regné mine). And really, layer determination means little practically, as variations occur plenty within layers and and those variations make little difference on the outcome of honing a razor. But I understand the sentiment of wanting to name your "child"

Originally Posted by sidmind

Still trying to get the hang of it, my other 3x5 I just got the hang of my other 3x6 stone which is softer and really feels like your doing something when honing on a slurry, unlike the one here n the photos, even with slurry it feels like your not doing much, I guess that could be good???

In my experience, feel when honing on a coticule is just that: feel. Where abrasion is concerned it means very little. I used to have an old coticule that felt like I was using sand instead of water while honing, yet was no more aggressive than my other old coticule, that has a very silky feel when honing. I prefer a smooth feel, but that has much more to do with the enjoyment of the honing experience for me than the result that hone yielded (which was sharp and smooth, by the way).

Originally Posted by sidmind

now all I needs a a slurry stone to go with it, since it is so hard, would I want to make sure I get another La Dressante? or can I raise the slurry on any of my other Coti's (I know I can use diamond plate, but that is no fun)

I know not everyone may agree with me, but coticule slurry is coticule slurry is coticule slurry. The only thing I noticed about slurrying and the difference between slurry stones is that it is hard for me to build a slurry with my "hybrid" Les Latneuses slurry stone on the "hybrid" side of my Les Latneuses coticule, as both surfaces are quite hard and therefore slightly reluctant to release garnets. By the way, generating slurry is - apart from tapping the rock for audial feedback - pretty much the only way I can determine anything about the hardness of a stone. Which again, apart from generating slurry, has minimal impact on the honing process or result. For instance, this Les Latneuses of mine is considerably harder than a few other coticules I have had, yet is faster than quite a few of those. And slower than another few, too. So if I would advise anything, I would advise against pairing a hard hone with a hard slurry stone.

tl;dr: It makes little difference, any slurry stone will do.

Enjoy that beautiful rock of yours!

Nice score!

I don't like Diamond plates for slurry on a coti. It breaks the garnets and that is not good for the edge. They are fine for JNATS and some other stones though.
Really any slurry stone would work well. Being a natural combo I would look for a natural combo slurry stone if you ever plan on using the BBW side.

Very nice stone and a great score.

Hey Ponca City, good looking coticule sir Congratulations. if you PM me your address we'll see what we can do about the coti slurry stone..
MIke

If you can find a Arkansas translucent pocket hone, it is all you will need to slurry any natural hone. Like a tomonagura that fits any natural and slurrys the grit of the hone only due to being harder than most natural's.

Originally Posted by MODINE

Hey Ponca City, good looking coticule sir Congratulations. if you PM me your address we'll see what we can do about the coti slurry stone..
MIke

A big thanks to Modine for sending me a couple of vintage coti' slurry stones free in the mail. What a great bunch of folks here.
I will defiantly be sending you a razor to hone, its been a few years since I had one sharpened by someone else, good to make sure I am not just shaving to my own expectations.

Originally Posted by sidmind

all for $20.00

Jeez Louise. Nice take!!