Thread: HONES! I need help

You don't need a picture.

The particles that do the cutting on a coticule are tiny garnets and have many sides like on a european football. Because there are more sharp pointy edges, the particles cut a lot smoother and finer than the particle measurement the grit or diameter of the particle..

Originally Posted by Cornelius

That's very interesting indeed.

The images taken under a microscope that I've seen on that coticule / Ardennes website did not show a particular cristal shape from what I remember, but then again I havent seen the other hones' particles magnified to compare. Would you happen to have a link to such a comparison?

I second the conclusions of this fine gentlemen:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/285357-post16.html

But in my opinion, it makes no further sense comparing Belgian hones, with their faceted honing particles, to grit ratings of synthetic hones. When used with water, Belgian hones are slow, but unique ultra polishers. When used with slurry they can move steel reasonably fast, certainly the Coticule. But it does not create the keenest edge. The Belgian Blue with slurry is slower but allows for a keener edge.
With nothing but a Coticule, it can be very challenging to improve the keenness level left by the slurry with nothing else but the slow polishing abilities of the same hone with water (or lather).
If you're going to go the Belgian way, I'd definitely add a Belgian Blue to the equation. That might save a lot of frustration.

Bart.

Originally Posted by Cornelius

That's very interesting indeed.

The images taken under a microscope that I've seen on that coticule / Ardennes website did not show a particular cristal shape from what I remember, but then again I havent seen the other hones' particles magnified to compare. Would you happen to have a link to such a comparison?

I am afraid not. The site of Belgische Brocken has pics of the garnets in coticules, I have never seen large magnifecations of diamond particles: Belgischer Brocken, Schleifstein, schärfen, Schärfstein, Abziehstein