Thread: What coticule to buy for a smooth edge?

Originally Posted by Christian1

imo vein doesn't guarantee a good stone but might it might increase the chances? I think if you look at the coticule surface that can help determine how fine it is as well as the side. I think if surface looks smooth and solid should be solid finisher. This just from my experience though I will add 2 photos of different coticules I have had. The first is one of my favorite finishers and the other coticule I was not personally a fan of. Although some coticules can have weird looking surfaces and be great finishers while others can have plain surfaces and not be great finishers. I would say magnese is usually a good sign but again it depends. Natural stones can be hit or miss, I wish coticule vendors would have some sort of grit rating for coticules. Like having extra extra fine/ extra fine/ fine instead of just "its a coticule they are all 6k-8k range and they all are great finishers." I could shave with 6k or 8k synth stone edge but I don't want to go buy from a synth stone vendor that says "yea my synth stones are 6k-8k with some being 10k+ but they are all good stones for whatever you are using it for. Trust me satisfaction GUARANTEED...but no returns accepted." sort of bad example but w/e, I suggest buying coticule from someone that offers return. GL

Attachment 293176

Attachment 293177

What vein is the 2nd one? I typically avoid cotis with that color and surface pattern like a wood grain as they typically are not pure coticule but mostly a mixture of other sediments and minerals that do no cutting or refining of the edge and much less "coticule."

Had some fun yesterday at Ardennes Coticule. Due to the summerholidays it was very quiet and Maurice and his son (IIRC his name is Rob) had some time to help me out. I had asked Maurice a couple of days before to get me a hone for a sharp edge that gives a smooth shave as well. They recommended a La Grosse Jaune (Yellow Fat Vein) hone. I had never heard of that vein before but apparently that is the new kid in town. I was given the opportunity to test the hone. I took out my 5/8 full hollow ground Herder and degraded the edge on a la Lorraine that they recommend for kitchen knives. I had not seen those before at Ardennes Coticule, they had quite a few. After 15 roundtrips on the LGJ its edge was very keen again. Back home the Herder shaved a 12 days growth off in one ATG pass Shave was very smooth, no irritation. Final verdict on this hone will have to wait for a couple weeks' daily use.
When I left I got a booklet on the geology and history of the coticule to boot For those who read French I can recommend it highly. The author explains complicated gelogical processes in simple terms.

Pictures don't do the hone justice. They were taken on the balcony of our holiday chalet that has dappled shade all day. The lighter areas of the hone are its true colour.

Isn't that also one with a little of a woodsy type pattern? Or something like it instead of a "kosher" looking one

As state above, I for one prefer woodsy type patterns in Coticules, like the La Grise, very SMOOTH edges from them.

I've had a buddy back in 2011 that also used the La Grosse Jaune layer and found them to give very mellow edges, nice man, I'd love to visit there once myself, and I live in Belgium, so that's a no brainer.

Always had good interactions with Ardennes Coticule, years and years ago when I asked specifically for a big La Grise natural combo, there were none left besides one, their showroom piece, which they sold to me. I've interacted with Rob and Katrien via e-mail and always had good service!


Nice rock!!

It has a little woodsy pattern indeed and on the left even some nashi spots

Always wanted coticule from that vein. Nice grab!

I have found the secret using my Coti is to finish with almost pressure under running water. I was having trouble with my little Coti & saw a video of this method, tried it out & didn't look back!
It just works!! Sometimes if the edge I get off my 16K Shapton seems to harsh I will smooth the edge by doing 8 laps on my Coti under running water & NO pressure & WOW what an edge.

Slawman

La grosse jaune I had one it was number 21 in the coticule vault among the slower coticule. Now I remember it very well as I learned to hone with it . I struggled at first but I remember when I hit the sweet spot with it and it was the smoothest shave I had . I remember messaging Bart about it and thinking this beat a cromox paste. Should never of sold that coticule it was a great shaver. I just received ten coticule a from Maurice and I have feeling I have a three lgj . The ones I suspect are lgj are very thick fat slices yellowish and when whet look dotty.

Gotta say, great marketing, I really wanna buy a LGJ now, I have no need for it, but I'm into the rock collecting business

Thanks for posting about your visit and purchase.

I believe they sell "select" cotis, which I meant to mention before your visit. I figured they would be able to point you in the right direction though since coticules are their business.

Doubt I will ever get to visit Ardennes, but I would enjoy a tour of a quarry like Dan's. Did they speak English there or just french? Too bad the book is in French. I have other books I really NEED to be reading anyway!!

Originally Posted by Disburden

You need to test natural stones as an independent stone to see if you like how they react to the razor. Coticules aren't synthetic, so they aren't the same stone to stone, like a chosera is or a Norton is. Veins don't matter much either, that's mostly marketing.

Basically you have to try coticules over and over until you find one that works for you, or keep the single one you have and use it for like a year, hone on it every day and keep honing and honing and you may learn that stone over time and get the results you want.

With that being said, I 've asked Maurice personally what veine was best for razors and he said La Vienette was. When I asked why, he didn't give me much of an answer other than it's best for razors...not sure what to get from that.

I get people ask me all the time... "Which mead is the BEST??" My reply is always "Whichever one I have the most of right now"
Take that as you will