Thread: Glued to slate coticule

Is the slate base on a "glued to slate" coticule also useable as a hone, or is it just for structure/stability? If so, where does it fit into a honing regimen?

Thanks - Gags

Slate is just for reinforcing the relatively fragile coticule. If it were Belgian blue, used as reinforcement on older vintage coticules, it would be usable as a hone.

I wonder if anyone has tried it? I haven't, but only because I have been told that the slate can't be used as a hone. I've looked at the slate backing to my coti, and it looks similar to the slate hones I have. I know that some slate can be used as a hone, but maybe the slate used to back coticules is different.

On another note, it would be nice if they backed some coti's with belgian blue instead of slate.


Michael

I only have older Coti which are either naturals, or glued to a blue. I have a newer coti that is backed with slate, and as was told to me the backing slate is not of honing quality. I DO have some other natural slates from the local area, which are decent hones, coming in at the 3-4 k level.

Nothing says you couldn't MAKE a good hon-able slate backing for a coti. I wonder if you send a slate to Ardenes(?) if they would mount a coti on it for you?

The slate is just for strength as the coticule is soft and prone to breakage. They use slate as it's commonly associated with the metamorphic formations which yield coticule.