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.

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 ....

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 JimmyHAD

A coticule is the name of a rock metaphorically formed over thousands/millions of years ...

Mine were formed metamorphically, but probably don't give edges as sublime as yours. :-)

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

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.

What is a good synthetic equivalent to a 600 girt coticule? I'd like to pick up an ebay straight razor every once in awhile and casually restore them.

thanks