Coticule with chip

I bought a Coticule bout a few weeks ago, and was very happy. Unfortunately, I have now noticed a chip on the edge, that I suspect may have appeared since I bought it. I have been very careful with it, and definitely not knocked it on anything.

The chip is right in the middle of one of the long sides of the stone, about 1/8th square, and right on what looks like a seam/vein (not sure of the terminology!) in the stone, which I am guessing is a weak point. I have used it a couple of times since, only honing from the other side of the stone to avoid it.

Is there any thing I can do to make it so it's safe to hone on that side? Will it do any damage at all to my razors? Would sanding it to remove the sharp edges help?

It wasn't too cheap as it is one of the bigger ones, so I am a bit upset to say the least!

I am at work at the moment, so I don't have any pictures. I will attach a pic later.

:cry:

The pic will be helpful.

It's possible that it could be easily lapped out. Being natural products coticules often have minor flaws. If it's major my guess is they'll replace it.

Just so you know, the etiquette at SRP is usually that you take up these sorts of things with the vendor before publicly posting. If you're unsure whether something's a problem in the first place, you could post a general query first (preferably with pics) not naming the vendor, and then based on feedback take it up with the vendor.

For what it's worth, both of my vintage coticules have chips; one even has a chunk missing on one side. Neither flaw interferes with my honing. Regardless of flaws you'll want to be rounding the edges if you haven't already.

This is not meant to be a slap on the wrist or anything, I'm just telling you for your information. You can see the logic. The vendor might take care of the problem (if it is a problem) to your absolute satisfaction, but there will forever be this post here for other newbs to read, leaving a little shadow of doubt in their minds about the vendor.

I removed the vendor name. I am not unhappy with the stone, and wasn't trying to imply that the service or product I received was substandard. I was really after a way to fix the problem.

I will post a picture later, but I suspect that the chip is about 1/8th deep as well. That seems like a lot of stone to me, but I suspect that even with that removed, the coticule will last a lifetime anyway :)

Thanks for the heads-up.

I have a Japanese stone that was chipped Removing the chip would have been too much work, so I just rounded the edges of the chipped part with sandpaper.
It works perfectly and the missing bit is causing no problems because it is rounded.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bruno

I have a Japanese stone that was chipped Removing the chip would have been too much work, so I just rounded the edges of the chipped part with sandpaper.
It works perfectly and the missing bit is causing no problems because it is rounded.

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This is exactly what I did with the missing chunk from my coticule.

You need one edge with no flaws to x-properly. Flaws on the far edge won't hurt anything if they're rounded like Bruno explains.

There's a difference between veins and cracks on coticules. If you've got a crack, and the chip you're talking about is just the beginning of crumbling deterioration, then you might well want to have it replaced.

My yellow coticule broke a little chip along a vein after I'd used it for a couple months. I think that just is part of the fun with naturals. I lapped it a bit to smooth it, but it's no issue. First, the slurry fills it up, and ifyou are careful the blade just slides right over it. And as i've used the coticule more and more it is of course disappearing.

I have a Y/G escher that sprunk a chip first time I lapped it - same thing - I smoothed it a bit, and just keep on using it, and the slurry fills the holes anyway (and the other side was more compact and didn't chip when I lapped it).

So if this needs to replaced go that route, but don't let it bug you other wise bec it's part of the joy of the natural stones. Just remember to use your slurry stone.

I don't think it's a crack, just a vein making a natural weak point.

Thanks everyone. I think I will just be careful and hone from the good side. :)

Here are the pics anyway :)

You can see the chip along with the little line it sits on. It does look smaller than it looks in my head!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/...219dafd1_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/...75219dafd1.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/...7b99ee49_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/...177b99ee49.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/...50673025_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/...f450673025.jpg

I reckon that can be easily lapped out and chamfered out as already noted - it's not that large after all.

It's funny how these things seem to magnify in size and scope in our head. I have the exact same problem!

Mark

That's nothing my dear Coticule user ;).

But if you want you can send it back to us (even in case you didn't bought it directly from us) and I'll replace the stone.
PM or email me if you are interested!

Now that's customer service for you. :tu

Indeed! That's customer service over and above the norm. Superb!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ArdennesCoticule

That's nothing my dear Coticule user ;).

But if you want you can send it back to us (even in case you didn't bought it directly from us) and I'll replace the stone.
PM or email me if you are interested!

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Here here Rob. That is awesome of you. I'm very happy with your customer service from my order. Also the stone I received from you was properly protected for shipping. The box was damaged but my stone was fine.

that's a good lookin' stone.

You know... I’ve been trying to decide if I should buy coticule or not… but reading this thread pushed me off the fence.

Thanks for the kind words guys, I really appreciate it!

Coticule is a very brittle material. After each production step the Coticule stone is checked for cracks and other faults. Sometimes you only see a crack when the stone is dry and sometimes only when the stone is wet. An invisible (or almost invisible) crack can go open due a little shock. This can happen during transport!! I've sent out stones which were perfect Coticule Selected stones before shipping but arrived cracked at their destination. Working with natural products isn't always simple ... but I'm sure you guys understand this!
So the only thing I can do is to offer a good customer service (after sales service).

In case you have questions about your newly purchased Coticule or BBW stone I suggest that you always contact the seller you bought it from. He's the first to help you out. In case the stone needs to be replaced the seller will discuss this with me and we will work out a solution which is best for each of us (you as an end user, the seller and we as manufacture).

I'm sure that all of our resellers (Howard from the Perfect Edge, Mike from GCOM, Steve from the Invisible Edge, Lee from RA Rooney, Gary from Timbertools and so on ..) will provide you an excellent service!

Well done Rob. My Kosher bout is a beauty BTW. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ArdennesCoticule

That's nothing my dear Coticule user ;).

But if you want you can send it back to us (even in case you didn't bought it directly from us) and I'll replace the stone.
PM or email me if you are interested!

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In the end, all (new) stones come from ardennes, one way or another :)
My 8x3" coticule went from you to Howard, and then back to me.

But this is truly great customer service Rob!

The pictures make it look like a hairline crack.
One of my coticules has a hairline crack (2 actually) but they don't cause problems because I use that one only for kitchen knives. Back when I was still using it for razors, it also caused no problems as long as it was lapped properly and the edges were chamfered.

For reference: the chip in my japanese natural narutaki is 2,5 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, and it's not causing any problems for me. As long as it doesn't cause problems, I -personally- think the flaw is not worth the hassle of mailing it back and waiting for a new one.