Thread: Why do I need a Coticle?

I used to think that a coti would be fantastic for me, and I have bought maybe 6 since I started honing. Today I sold all of them, and I am honing on synthetics, and a few naturals. There are better finishers out there for me, and for the sharpening part, I like man made stones much more. They are nice stones, but nowadays more expensive that they are worth imo.

Well, speaking of price, if you go right to the horses mouth, Ardennes, A selected grade Coticule, 200x75 or 8x3 goes for around $460.00, so he's correct.
Ardennes Coticule - natural sharpening stones from Vielsalm Belgium. - Online shop

Now, Jarrod, at Superior Shave. His prices are about the same. 200-400.00+ for a selected grade (rectangular) stone. That's selected grade, the pretty one's. Looking at his stock, he has some nice looking stones, but your going to pay just like the OP said, around $300.00 I remember 3 grades of Coticule, Kosher, Selected and Standard.

Kosher is perfectly clean through and through.

Selected grade is supposed to have a clean visable surface with no flaws, inclusions, cracks, etc...but may have some under the surface, not visable.

Standard grade are the ones you see with various mineral deposits, cracks, inclusions, discolorations, etc...The stones that became popular with the launch of Bart's website and his vault.

Coticules are like any other natural stone in the sense that it's a crap shoot, like a box of chocolates, You never know what your gonna get.

Can they be had cheap, Yes, you need to look around, Ebay, private sales, I've seen them on the classifieds recently. If you buy from a vendor, you may get a better stone, you may not, but your definitely going to pay more for it. If you go the inexpensive route, and buy a bout, well, It's an odd shaped stone, possibly a trapazoid or something. Not very fun to use. I prefer at least a 6x2 rectangular stone. That's me. Some guys don't mind a bout.

I don't know what the deal is at the quarry these days, Are they scarse? Is it the economy, who knows. I know 200x75 selected were around $300.00 usd not too long ago. I like the selected grade Coti's, they just look nicer, The standard grade can do the same job, they're just not as pretty. And again, No two are alike. You get a slow Coticule, and all you'll learn is patience.

Jarod's site:
Belgian Coticule Hones

Originally Posted by zib

Well, speaking of price, if you go right to the horses mouth, Ardennes, A selected grade Coticule, 200x75 or 8x3 goes for around $460.00, so he's correct.
Ardennes Coticule - natural sharpening stones from Vielsalm Belgium. - Online shop

Now, Jarrod, at Superior Shave. His prices are about the same. 200-400.00+ for a selected grade (rectangular) stone. That's selected grade, the pretty one's. Looking at his stock, he has some nice looking stones, but your going to pay just like the OP said, around $300.00 I remember 3 grades of Coticule, Kosher, Selected and Standard.

Kosher is perfectly clean through and through.

Selected grade is supposed to have a clean visable surface with no flaws, inclusions, cracks, etc...but may have some under the surface, not visable.

Standard grade are the ones you see with various mineral deposits, cracks, inclusions, discolorations, etc...The stones that became popular with the launch of Bart's website and his vault.

Coticules are like any other natural stone in the sense that it's a crap shoot, like a box of chocolates, You never know what your gonna get.

Can they be had cheap, Yes, you need to look around, Ebay, private sales, I've seen them on the classifieds recently. If you buy from a vendor, you may get a better stone, you may not, but your definitely going to pay more for it. If you go the inexpensive route, and buy a bout, well, It's an odd shaped stone, possibly a trapazoid or something. Not very fun to use. I prefer at least a 6x2 rectangular stone. That's me. Some guys don't mind a bout.

I don't know what the deal is at the quarry these days, Are they scarse? Is it the economy, who knows. I know 200x75 selected were around $300.00 usd not too long ago. I like the selected grade Coti's, they just look nicer, The standard grade can do the same job, they're just not as pretty. And again, No two are alike. You get a slow Coticule, and all you'll learn is patience.

Belgian Coticule Hones

Zib, I appreciate your post. Thanks. I just started my computer and was going to post and there it was. The coticule seems to elicit very strong emotions. There have been so many articles, posts, and discussions concerning it that its hard not to get caught up in the mystic of it as well. I actually started looking for one over a month ago, but when I called about one they were out of stock and no date certain for when they would be available again. I left my numbers, but have received no reply. eBay, differences in similar grade stones, etc., etc. is why I used the "roll the dice" metaphor. My price range was based on the 75x200mm stone. The reason for that is my hands are not that steady and progressively get a little worse each year. While I can use a two handed honing stroke, similar to Glen in his videos, and get very good results I start to lose, I guess, control of the levelness of the blade when I drop to 2" and smaller. I know that I will never master, or may not even become proficient with a coticle, but the challenge is sometimes the thing to be desired. All of the stuff I acquire is to pass on to my two grandsons and son-in-law and I hope I get to teach them some of what I've learned about an old and hopefully resurgent necessity and art. I wish my father or grandfather had taken the time to teach me these things, but they had moved on to DE's and throwaway blades too.

I appreciate all of the input, thank you very much. I was looking for what you knew the stone would do, why someone would want, or as I worded it need it, was hoping to get the allure factor as well, which stimpy52 very eloquently covered - thanks again for that post stimpy. I got all of that and more and thanks to those trying to save me a buck! The cost of the new quarry stones has almost doubled though since last year. To close, yes I did buy one. I had checked SRD on and off because they listed them in "The Sharpening Center", but every time I tried they were out of stock. So yesterday I called and turns out it was a small glich in the computer, they did have them, and I ordered one. Once again, thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas and taking the time to respond.

Howard

I've just started honing on the coticule - been honing on them for 3 months now - I absolutely love it. well done on your purchase they're alot of fun and don't need soaking and can get from bevel setter to 10-12k finisher in less than an hour, or 20 minutes if your a honemeister. Maybe its the edge your after maybe its the challenge, either way, you won't regret your purchase.

I found a vintage one about a year ago...absolutely love it and would never give it up.

If you can find a good one, they're great hones. I have a pinkish looking Dressante that's just a great hone all around. It's 6x2, I really wish it was 8x3. Now, I do have a La Nouvelle 8x3 that's a great finisher, so between those two, it really leaves a nice edge. As mentioned, they are good for blades prone to microchipping, or a Tam o Shanter....

Originally Posted by zib

If you can find a good one, they're great hones. I have a pinkish looking Dressante that's just a great hone all around. It's 6x2, I really wish it was 8x3. Now, I do have a La Nouvelle 8x3 that's a great finisher, so between those two, it really leaves a nice edge. As mentioned, they are good for blades prone to microchipping, or a Tam o Shanter....

I actually am using the same two layers for my coticules at the moment. A very fast la dressante, and a la nouvelle veine finisher.

I remember when an 8x3 was 175$ now they're 475$..
Its obvious that we should hold onto a coti or two since it seems the mines are running out of resources.

Originally Posted by Disburden

I remember when an 8x3 was 175$ now they're 475$..
Its obvious that we should hold onto a coti or two since it seems the mines are running out of resources.

Same here, I have a 6cm x 20cm La Petite Blanche that I bought for something between 140 and 150 EUR, it would now cost 227 EUR or so I've been told.

That being said, gentlemen, large stones like these are really not necessary (or practical for that matter for some razors with issues, especially not the width). I like the 4 x 20cm format better, and those are still affordable (96 EUR).

Originally Posted by decraew

That being said, gentlemen, large stones like these are really not necessary (or practical for that matter for some razors with issues, especially not the width). I like the 4 x 20cm format better, and those are still affordable (96 EUR).

I always love that statement it is so un-true, width has nothing to do with honing razors with "Issues" thinner stones are simply thinner stones... If you don't believe me, take a pencil and draw a line down a 3 inch hone at 1 inch 1.5 or 2 inches and simply stay on one side of the line same, same...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I always love that statement it is so un-true, width has nothing to do with honing razors with "Issues" thinner stones are simply thinner stones... If you don't believe me, take a pencil and draw a line down a 3 inch hone at 1 inch 1.5 or 2 inches and simply stay on one side of the line same, same...

I have never earned any benefit from using a thin 1" wide stone over a 3" wide stone. Maybe it's me, maybe I don't know how to take advantage of a thin stone, who knows? I know I'd rather have a larger stone over a 5"x1" stone... Maybe I'm greedy..I don't know?
I can manuever a razor and use a rolling stroke just as easy on an 8"X3" stone...