Thread: what is a coticule hone and slurry?

Evening Gents

When researching about razor hones I keep stumbling across the name coticule. Could someone please tell me what a coticule hone is and what the main advantages and disadvantages on these hones are?

Also what is the mian use for a slurry stone and what are the advantages of using one?

Thanks.

A coticule is a natural stone mined mainly in a certain region of Belgium, though apparently there have been coticules found in other areas as well. But for our purposes these stones are Belgian, and are often called "Belgian hones".

There's a tonne of info on them here and in other places. They don't, IMO, have any main advantages or disadvantages over other hones. They are a natural hone, and they have a role to play in the 6-10K range, let's say. They can be fast, slow, moderate in cutting speed. They can vary in fineness. They are mined from different "veins", and apparently different veins have different properties.

There is also a coarser version known as the Belgian Blue - it is blue in colour (the coticule is basically yellow, with variants).

The main abrasive particulate in both the blue and the coticule is garnets - these are shaped roughly like little soccer balls so there are no acute angles hitting the steel. This means they can be quite a gentle hone, and as a result many people like the "smooth" edges produced.

Coticules can require a bit of time and patience to master. They are more "pernickety" and fussy, or can be, than other kinds of stones.

Slurry stones are rubbed on a hone to produce "mud" or "slurry". Slurry can be useful in honing for a variety of reasons - from increasing the speed of the cutting action to producing a smoother edge. It depends on the hone. There is also the Japanese approach to slurry, were the base hone actually doesn't release it's particles and the slurry actually comes from the slurry stone itself - people use a progression of increasingly fine slurry stones and finally end up with the base hone itself.

It all gets very complicated, and perhaps the best thing to do is to track down a few threads that go into more detail on this stuff.

James.

A coticule is the name of a rock metaphorically formed over thousands/millions of years and mined out of the ground in Belgium. For hundreds of years they have been used for honing razors, among other things. A slurry, or rubbing stone, is lightly rubbed across the honing surface. The water becomes cloudy with the abrasive generated by the rubbing and cuts faster than if the stone is used with water only.

Synthetic stones, cheaper , more consistent than a natural stone, easily replaceable and available, have largely replaced the coticule for many honers. Some use both naturals and synthetic, appreciating the qualities of each. I fall into the latter category.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

A coticule is a natural stone mined mainly in a certain region of Belgium, though apparently there have been coticules found in other areas as well. But for our purposes these stones are Belgian, and are often called "Belgian hones".

There's a tonne of info on them here and in other places. They don't, IMO, have any main advantages or disadvantages over other hones. They are a natural hone, and they have a role to play in the 6-10K range, let's say. They can be fast, slow, moderate in cutting speed. They can vary in fineness. They are mined from different "veins", and apparently different veins have different properties.

There is also a coarser version known as the Belgian Blue - it is blue in colour (the coticule is basically yellow, with variants).

The main abrasive particulate in both the blue and the coticule is garnets - these are shaped roughly like little soccer balls so there are no acute angles hitting the steel. This means they can be quite a gentle hone, and as a result many people like the "smooth" edges produced.

Coticules can require a bit of time and patience to master. They are more "pernickety" and fussy, or can be, than other kinds of stones.

Slurry stones are rubbed on a hone to produce "mud" or "slurry". Slurry can be useful in honing for a variety of reasons - from increasing the speed of the cutting action to producing a smoother edge. It depends on the hone. There is also the Japanese approach to slurry, were the base hone actually doesn't release it's particles and the slurry actually comes from the slurry stone itself - people use a progression of increasingly fine slurry stones and finally end up with the base hone itself.

It all gets very complicated, and perhaps the best thing to do is to track down a few threads that go into more detail on this stuff.

James.

You mean they aren't the best hones in the whole wide world? I'm shattered.

http://www.coticule.be has a LOT of info on all things coticule if you're so inclined..

Hello Gents

Thank you all for the replies, very informative and helpful. Much appreciated.

With regards to slurry stones is it best to hone with just water and then hone with a slurry to get a finer progression or should I do it the other way round?

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Obamabeard

Hello Gents

Thank you all for the replies, very informative and helpful. Much appreciated.

With regards to slurry stones is it best to hone with just water and then hone with a slurry to get a finer progression or should I do it the other way round?

Cheers.

Slurry is usually used at the start rather than at the end. Some guys start with a thick slurry and dilute to thin, finishing with a very diluted mix. Others start medium to thin and dilute to almost clear, or rinse to no slurry once the razor is at the 'right' place. It really depends on the condition of the razor and what you are aiming to accomplish.

Depending on what stones you have I almost think it is better to learn the fundamentals without using slurry until you've got strokes, muscle memory and pressure learned. One step at a time. Once you feel good with basic honing begin to experiment with slurry. Thick, thin ..... IME the early stages of learning to hone are sort of going through the motions in faith that what you've read about here will work, but never really "knowing" what you're doing. Success leads to confidence and less frustration. So at that stage start adding more techniques into the routine.

You'll have a better feel for what is working because you're mastering the different parts of the skill one at a time. Doing it all at once makes it harder to discern what worked out of the whole shebang. Anyway ....

Do coticules come in certain 'grits'? Like can you get an 8K coticule? Or is the 'grit' determined by the consistency of the slurry?

A coticule is a coticule. The fineness is always something that needs to be discovered for each stone. Though as I said before they do fall into a range, and they are mined from veins with apparent property differences too. Guaranteeing a grit (eg: "buy this 10k coticule) with a natural stone is always a hazardous process, and I'd be asking a lot of questions of a seller who does so.

Slurry can be slightly more complex than initial impressions may lead you to believe. Some stones abrasive bit will break down into finer abrasive bits as they get knocked around and crushed etc when honing - people call these friable grit hones. Clearly, slurry from these stones can not only be used initially to help speed things up, but also toward the end to help smooth things out and create a finer finish.

I'm pretty sure coticules don't really fall into the "friable" grit category, at least not in the same way that Japanese natural stones do, although I guess with enough work a garnet will either break down or smooth out eventually.

James.

Originally Posted by Obamabeard

Do coticules come in certain 'grits'? Like can you get an 8K coticule? Or is the 'grit' determined by the consistency of the slurry?

Great info from Jimbo. If you check the Ardennes website (The quarry) they say the Coticule is around 8k, and the Belgian blue stone is around 4k. This is subjective because they are naturals. I have several Cotiucles and each has different properties. The slurry can speed up the honing process, but not change the grit of the stone, that's impossible.

Like any other natural stone, buying them is a crapshoot. Most vendors don't have the time to individually test each stone they sell, so you may get a fast one or a slow one. If your looking to maintain a razor, and are new to all of this, especailly honing. You may want to learn on a synthetic hone, like the Norton 4/8k or even Naniwa's. Once you get some experience under your belt, and know what to expect, then look at naturals. Just my two cents.

On the other hand, If your razor is shave ready, and you use a Coticule with just water, you can probably maintain that razor. Either way, there's a learning curve.

From what I hear, most of the Coticule being mined, and sold today are hard finishers, mostly "La Grise" vein.