Thread: Coticule Impurities (Black Lines)

This is the picture that we need to show when we say that no two natural stones are the same. Case in point, 4 stones, 4 colors, all coti's.

Thank you, Jimmy. Those color variations are amazing and the striped stone is quite a looker!

Originally Posted by JCitron

This is the picture that we need to show when we say that no two natural stones are the same. Case in point, 4 stones, 4 colors, all coti's.

Yes it is like a group of people. All basically the same but with their own personalities. That is the way I see it anyway. I am sure there are some folks who would say what is up with that guy ? Why all of the stones ?

In getting into straight razor shaving my hobby has become learning to hone razors and getting to know the characteristics of the different hones and razors. It is sort of an adventure to take various hones and see what how they perform.

The razors are also basically the same yet individual. As Lynn posted more then once, having honed thousands of razors, even those made by the same company and the same model number, no two are exactly alike.

So at this stage of my development as an aspiring honemiester every razor is a challenge. It reminds me of the artist who finds the blank canvas staring back at him. I have to use this rock to make this piece of steel so sharp that it will cut hair effortlessly. There is the thrill of victory sometimes and the agony of defeat other times. All fun though one way or the other.

Originally Posted by sparq

Thank you, Jimmy. Those color variations are amazing and the striped stone is quite a looker!

They are beautiful aren't they. I posted when I first got the kosher from Rob at Ardennes and the striped from Howard. At that time I didn't like the performance of the striped coticule.

I took it to work and when I had down time I used it with slurry and then following Bart's lead I would gradually dilute it until I was honing with water only. That experience taught me that I had to get to know a hone to get the best performance out of it. Turned out to be a heckuva stone. My next exploration will be into the pink coticule and the grey reverse side. Bart's pink stone is a fast cutter. I have to see where my big pink fits in. Lots of fun.

Jimmy, your coticules are beautiful! I've been swamped at work for the last couple months so have only had time to occasionally pick up a hone just to stroke it for a few seconds in order to try to maintain our emotional bond. I've really missed honing! I hadn't realized that, for a brief time, I had as many coticules as you, but you clearly have a wider variety of colors. I guess I'll have to keep looking for a green one.

Regarding the original query, I concur that the dark lines have no impact on honing. One of my coticules is loaded with them and I never feel it. I do have one that has a single inclusion that runs almost the full length of the hone and I couldn't tell if it was a crack or an inclusion until I looked under the microscope and discovered that it was both. There was a crevice in the stone that was filled with dark material in some regions but it was missing in others, but again, I never can feel it when honing.

Mighty nice bunch of coticules you have there Ron. I figured you've been busy since I haven't seen you posting. Glad you got some free time again it is good to 'see' you.