Thread: So how exactly are the Coticule stones which we all love so much produced?

Outstanding post and VERY interesting.... I almost passed by this thread !..

Thanks so much for all the pictures, history and info...

Ill be looking forward to your future posts !

And I tell you what... I wouldent mind seeing TLC or the History channel doing an episode about this palce and how its all done

Rob, thank you for this post. The Belgian coticule is the best stone for me...I have a few of the yellow stones, and a combination stone which I just love.

This was amazingly interesting. I had wondered exactly how coticules are made. This is awesome! Thanks!!

Very interesting.

The coticule industry is clearly a very difficult one due to the rock's near inaccessability; but at the same time this also affords you quite a bit of freedom in regard to shaping and exporting the things.

*Ring-Ring!*

"Hello, and thank you for calling 1-800-COTICULE! How can I assist you today? Uh huh... uh huh. Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Why exactly are you dissatisfied with your new coticule, sir? Because its shape slightly resembles a phallus? I see. Well sir, that's probably because when our workers mined out ton after hellish TON of useless rock to reach what they ascertained to be a suitable FRAGMENT of pay dirt, your coticule was slightly reminiscent of a phallus even THEN! Say again? NO! Just polished, boxed and shipped!! Uh huh....uh huh.... well yes, frankly, you SHOULD apologize! Yuh-huh -- well, that's quite all right, I'm used to it. Oh yeah, at LEAST five or six times a day. Uh huh... oh, I know, eh!? Well, I'm not a geologist OR a psychoanalyst actually, but I'd say it's a little of column A, a little of column B. Right...right... well yeah, a lot of his theories WERE pretty out to lunch -- ooh, speaking of which! Right... well it was good talking to you too! What's that? Of COURSE I'll send you one of our peenis catalogues! No-no, sir, I'm just---yes, Of COURSE that was a joke! Ha ha ha! Well thanks, so says my high school yearbook, anyway. Okey dokey... right.... you too. Buh-bye."

Oh, and am I just imagining things (well clearly I imagine things quite a bit!), but is the saw operator missing a couple of digits on his right hand? And....not wearing any eye protection? I've heard of putting blood, sweat and tears into your work, but that's just ridiculous! *Rimshot*

G'night everybody!

*Band Plays*

Blade Wielder: you made me laugh
If you want you can start up an US hotline for us!

The saw operator isn't missing any of his digits, at least last Friday he wasn't missing any!

About the eye protection: you are right about this, we should wear eye protection. But the problem is that water and dust are everywhere so after sawing 2 minutes you can't see you saw and stones anymore.
It's also rare that stone flakes are flying around so our eyes are plus minus safe!

I don't know if you guys already know this video : http://www.streamingkit.de/player/st...erBrocken1.asx

The video was made by one of our German resellers some years ago.

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

Very interesting.

G'night everybody!

*Band Plays*

Sounds as if someone got very drunk last night...

Rob, once again, my warmest welcome to SRP. Thank you very much for sharing those pictures.
I look forward to learning more about the coticule grading.
Hope to find a chance to drop by at the quarry again in the nearby future.

Kind regards,
Bart.

I ordered one of these listed in the Classifieds. Can't wait to gt it. They all look amazing.

Thanks again for the post. I'll talk to some of the gents and see if anyone is already working on a Wiki entry for this. If not, I'll do it.

Rob,

I have two of your coticules: a yellow and the blue one.
One member in some forum said that there are "hard and soft" yellow coticules.
Is it true, how to know which one we have? Does the color indicate which one ?
Does it change something in the use of the stones?
Thanks.

You belgians have it all.. Good beer, the best Chocolat and hones... (not to speak of manneke pis offcourse) .. I love belgium..

Maye you should considder anexating the netherlands and show us what is realy important in life

I'm pretty sure I've been to Vielsalm before dont know why or when but I'm sure it wasnt for a hone. So now I know I'm pretty sure I have to go there again... its a three hour drive so thats not too bad..

Maarten

Originally Posted by kingreverent

One member in some forum said that there are "hard and soft" yellow coticules.
Is it true, how to know which one we have? Does the color indicate which one ?
Does it change something in the use of the stones?

There are indeed harder and softer Coticule stones. It all depends on the composition of the particular Coticule vein of which the stone comes from. We know from our experience which vein is which and I'm writing an article about it (I need to finish this, it has almost been a year since I started writing ).
But more to come about this subject! Give me some weeks and I'll post more about our Coticule grading system and the different veins we are quarrying!
(I have a Kosher Coticule which is so soft that when scratching the surface with your finger nail you are peeling mm's of Coticule)

Originally Posted by mlangstr

You belgians have it all.. Good beer, the best Chocolat and hones... (not to speak of manneke pis offcourse) .. I love belgium..

Yep!

Originally Posted by mlangstr

Maye you should considder anexating the netherlands and show us what is realy important in life

No

Originally Posted by mlangstr

I'm pretty sure I've been to Vielsalm before dont know why or when but I'm sure it wasnt for a hone. So now I know I'm pretty sure I have to go there again... its a three hour drive so thats not too bad..

Next time you are in Vielsalm - Lierneux you know where to stop!
Welcome anytime.