Thread: Coticule edges (dilucot) under microscope 160x

It is a GREAT illustration of what we THINK we see vs what could have caused it

Originally Posted by gssixgun

It is a GREAT illustration of what we THINK we see vs what could have caused it

Glen - I am sure you are right. The weird thing though is for the two Les Latneuses and the Nouvelle Veine, in my mind that's what I would expect the scratch pattern to look like. - Of course that could be wishful thinking on my part!!

I have a Latneuses with a cream side and a hybrid side. The creamy side cuts fast and leaves a fairly mid sharp but soft edge. The hybrid side is harder and slower and finishes with a much cleaner crisper feel.

My Nouvelle Veine is a puzzle - it is almost like honing on a mid grit stone - except it feels very smooth when I shave. The edge almost feels fluffy - smooth and fluffy!- except when I add the extra bevel with a unicot - then it cleans up well and is really good to use. (Apologies for the bad terminology... )


Of course - as you have said on multiple occasions - no two naturals are the same. I just find the pictures interesting because they kind of make sense to me based on my stones.

While I agree that a bevel micrograph is not a predictor of the quality of the edge or its ability to shave, Philipp has a nice collection of vintage Coticules and appears to be a capable honer, by the consistent stria pattern and very straight edges he has posted. It looks like he has been honing for a while.

And I would assume he is trying to produce the best finish from each stone, using the lightest pressure possible to finish, He is even using a non-friable rubbing stone, so the slurry is from the base stone alone.

So, while I do believe that bevel micrographs can be subjective, especially produced by any natural stone, Philipp has taken care to produce consistent results that are a good documentation of the finishes his stones can produce for comparison.

The quality of the micrographs is also impressive, having been taken with a cell phone.

Being naturals and especially being Coticules, one of the most difficult stone to master, based on my experience and that of thousands of others, (a Google search returned 65,000 hits), Phillip’s micrographs are an interesting demonstration of the potential edges these veins can produce.

Philipp’s finding is consistent with what most of us experimenting with naturals have found, harder stone are capable of producing finer stria, more polish and straighter edges.

For me, the Coticule edge is just not keen enough for my taste, and that is exactly what many like about the Coticule.

Philipp, how do the shaves compare?

Thank a lot,
happy to read all the positive feedback!

Actually I have not yet shaved of all of the coties listed above.

La Nouvelle Vein was my very first stone for razor honing 2 years ago. Looking back I can say it was a bad Idea to start the sharpening journey with a Coticule. I‘ve spent several weeks scrubbing a hell out of the razor and the stone, wondering why the slurry turns that black but the razor does not reach anywhere near to a shaving condition :S
Purchased several other coties and other hones, selled lots of them again, changed razors and so on... until I‘ve started to change the way I‘m honing

The La Nouvelle Vein was laying in a shelf for one year, got it out recently after I‘ve learned to finish on the La Veignette ballancing it on my fingertips.

My facial hair-skin combination seems to require very keen and very smooth edge, below HHT4 I don’t think of test shaving.

La Veignette (fingertips-finished) gives me a very close, effortless and mellow shave with a level of comfort which I would call „as good as my shaving technique“. Shaving was tested with the Filarmonica 14 double temple. Remark: until today I can only get high HHT results of La Veignette by putting another finisher between „working on slurry“ and „finishing“, with classic dilucot I couldn’t exceed the solid HHT3 level yet.

My recently purchased small La Dressante provides higher level of keenness with the same level of comfort, perhabs slightly below (but maybe it was a shaving technique, I‘ve shaved only 2 times of it). And it does not auto slurry! Have not shaved after full dilucot yet, have touched up my Fili 14 on it with water only. It’s definitely my new favorite

Les Latneuses I have also purchased in time I could not properly hone, after some tries and errors it has accompanied the La Nouvelle Vein in the shelf. Will involve it back into my team of „active stones“

The grey one is very new and came together with La Dressante. No experience with it apart of this test.

Currently I‘m occupied by taking care of my damaged PC, but after I plan to spend more time on coties.

Will then also take some unicot pictures, and probably also under running water.

Looking forward to learn more about the „yellow mystery“

Regards

Philipp

Originally Posted by Euclid440

For me, the Coticule edge is just not keen enough for my taste, and that is exactly what many like about the Coticule.

If you find at some point a coticule that has a La Lune backing (I think some sold even with La Lune logo or something, but not all had the La Lune stone back), it might give a keen enough edge. They all seemed to be very hard and fine. Mine is the hardest and finest coticule I have ever found so far. And by far the sharpest coticule edge and a very sharp edge compared to anything, but not aggressive.

I have several natural Coticules and several of the “French” stone, probably some La Lune, though none of mine are labeled.

And yes, they can deliver a keener edge. There is a lot of history written on the French stones here and elsewhere and a lot of mystery about these stones. Seems those that knew the details are gone now.

Euclid440, have you tried to finish with another stone (e.g. the french one) providing the level of keenness your need and then go back to Coticule and do some ultralight strokes.

By this I can reach the HHT5 level on my La Veignette and La Dressante.

To me seems like some cotirs have a quite jump between the coarse „slurry-sharpenong“ and the „poloshing with just the tops of garnets sitting in the stone“.

No, really, I have moved more to Jnats, that provide a keener and smoother edge. I have not experimented with Coticules much, in the last couple years.

Though I buy them when I find them at good prices. I did pick up a couple nice ones recently at an antique flea market.

Perhaps I will dig them out and give them a go. I see Glen did the same.