Thread: Choosing a good Belgian Coticule stone

Hello everyone,
I'm looking into purchasing a Belgian Coticule stone. In the process of researching, I've got myselfa little overwhelmed with all of the information that's out on the internet indetermining where and from whom to purchase the stone. I know it's best to geta natural stone as compared to purchasing a stone that was made of chips andpieces off the saw mill and glued together to make a honing stone.
The purpose I'll use the stone is not so much of trying tomake it my one for start to finish honing or trying to set a bevel, it's morefor the later stages of honing in trying to get a sharper and more polished edgeon the razor. I've got the 400/1000, 4000/8000 grit Norton stone and a 12000grit Naniwa stone. I can a decent sharpness to the razor with these stones however,I've heard that Belgian Coticule stonesgives a better edge and polish. I understand that I would have to get a slurrystone with this.
So what I'm asking everyone is recommendations where to finda good quality Belgian Coticule stone. I've seen the stone for sale at Best SharpeningStones and Timber Tools websites. One question is, does paying the extra priceat the Timber Tools compared to the same size stone from the Best SharpeningStones mean I'm getting a better quality honing stone? Or should I get a stonedirectly from Ardennes Cuticule? I'm looking into a 8x3 stone.
Any advice and recommendations would greatly be appreciated.

I would be more inclined to watch the classifieds here and ask question of the seller of post a wanted to buy add here too. There is a lot more to a cuticle than the size. There have been more than one mine and mining took place over a pretty long time frame so there is a lot of variation. There are some that go through the classifieds from time to time and the guys selling them are very familiar. You could get lucky on the bay, or buy many before you find your true love. The feel of the edge from a natural is different than a synthetic. Perhaps another way to check it out is to get a couple of razors pro honed on a coti. It will give you an idea of what you should be getting in the end and also help you decide if you want to go that route or not.

Welcome to SRP. To begin with, you'll look long and hard to find a better finisher than a Naniwa 12k. Particularly if you are looking at a coticule. This is not to say that they are not out there, but picking one off of the shelf, so to speak, is luck of the draw. Second of all, while a natural combo is desirable from an aesthetic standpoint, it isn't necessarily going to be better, or even as good, as a glued stone.

I have an 8x2 from Ardennes that happens to be a good stone. A La Veinette, other than that, I have vintage stones of unknown mines/veins, and some are better than others. Say that to say, unlike synthetic hones, natural stones are not a predictable quantity, and no vendor can just pull one off a shelf and say 'this' is a finisher, or this is not. OTOH, if you watch the classifieds you may be able to find out from a seller, if one comes up, how it performed. IMHO.

Shaun (Rez) beat me to it, I was typing while he posted ..... great minds and all that.

Welcome to the forum!!

+1 on Jimmy and Rez.

You also might try this search function for "coticule". You'll discover that the coticule is a sometimes, more often than not, frustrating endeavor to find the great finisher. Advanced Search - Straight Razor Place Forum Also the synthetics are superb stones especially the 12k Naniwa.

I chased a coticule right from the start too. It took some time and $'s but I finally found a good one from the below vendor. Now, it sits alone in its box and seldom see's light.

This vendor is very knowledgable about coticules and carries the stones.

The Perfect Edge | For all your sharpening/honing supplies

, but I'd stick to the Naniwa and maybe look at a Suehiro Gokumyo 20k synthetic, or maybe down the road, a Jnat.

Regards,

Howard

Edit: Just for clarity, his name is Howard, and it's not me!

First off, Gerald, you have quite the array of hones already to give you a edge that should, by all means, shave you comfortably. However, if you are looking to try out a coticule, then that is up to you. It will most likely not have a drastic effect on your edges, though.

All newly mined coticules come from Ardennes Coticule. So any difference in price you see between similar stones are differences in retailer mark-ups; bearing in mind that there are two aesthetic categories, standard and select, which can make a bit of difference. But these are usually marked as such by retailers.

Also, 8x3" coticules are, in coticule terms, huge. And rare, because they simply do not mine a whole lot of slabs large enough to accomodate for a 8x3" rectangle. As such, coticules of this size are expensive. If you really just want to buy a coticule to try out the edge it provides, I would strongly advise you to get a smaller one. For finishing, a 6" X 1 5/8" should, by all means, be enough. Or, as has been suggested, get a razor honed on a coticule by someone who knows what he is doing and see for yourself. I wouldn't mind doing you a favour at shipping cost, providing you are willing to ship a razor to Finland (I know there are able honers Stateside, but I hate speaking on behalf of other people).

If you are determined on buying your own coticule (I assume you live in the US) my advice would be to contact thesuperiorshave.com (or timbertools.com, but I think The Superior Shave has better prices and knowledge about razor sharpening) for a rectangular bout. Don't worry about veins, in the end they don't matter all that much. They're more for collectors than practical use (and for pricing for hones out of layers that are harder to mine/come by).

Off topic: just to re-iterate a point I've made before: if all you do is finish on a coticule and you don't find the shave satisfactory, you are most likely doing something wrong prior to finishing. This goes for, well, all finishers, really.

8x3 coticules are expensive and much more then you need. However if you want to dish out $250+ on something that may or may not improve your shave go for it. I found that coticules with a 2" width to be easier to hone on for me personally and it's really a shot in the dark on finding a coticule that speaks to you. I've got a size 8 bout that is my baby. I love it and wouldn't go without it but I've also got a 7x2 coticule for finishing. They both do different things and feel different honing on. It really takes a while to get to know your stone so don't think you can un box it and bam you know it.

Its a very long learning process so you're going to have some dedication to that stone. Good luck!

I doubt a coticule will improve a good 12K Super Stone edge. You can paste a 12k edge with Chrome Oxide and get an even better edge or spend about the same money you would spend on an 8x3 Coticule and buy the SG 20k and have a much better edge as suggested.

But, if you do still want one, any of the sellers listed already will get you a nice stone. More importantly I would ask why, Coticules are always for sale in the classifieds.

My experience is they are all different, and as a final finisher, there are better alternatives. Perhaps you should try one, before investing in a large pricy one.

I'm nit a hone man but I've had the same razor honed on a coticle and the Naniwa 12k in the beginning , the Naniwa was as good to me YMMV, but it sounds like you have the tools unless your just going thru HAD. Always remember Glens signature. Says it all about yours hones. Good luck. Tc

A topic that is somewhat on my mind at the minute also, there is a video on youtube, i think the guy who made it (hibudgl100) is possibly a member here at SRP and it has some very good information to consider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0l0Db9AXeU

I personally have a standard bout from http://www.ardennes-coticule.be and i have just received a second one in the mail today which i acquired from an auction site (this is the point where i mention to being a minor HAD 'sufferer?').
I do really like the edge produced from these stones, but i do understand how overwhelming they can be.
I hope that video can bring you some new information and help a little.

I'm a big fan of coticules myself love using them and love the finish i get from them. But I don't think that a coticule is the perfect stone for what you are looking for.

If you want to keep using your progression of synthetics and are looking for a natural to use as a finisher then I think something like a thuringer is a better choice. That or one of the other high end slate stones.

They are pure finishers so you don't have to worry about slurry dulling or anything. and they give a finish that, like the coticule is very smooth to shave with.