u/16cholland

Ive been wondering lately if anyone knows, or think they might know where the "new" coticules are coming from. Most coticules I've bought are from ebay or Amazon as new stones. All but one from Jarrod actually, which he said is either a La Veinette or a Dressante, and i believe hes right. I'm assuming that means recently mined and unused. They do say they are "Ardennes Coticule" though. Does anyone know the names of the mines they're still getting stones from? I know there's many mine names that I'm aware of(the common ones), and suspect there's many that I'm not aware of. I know it really doesn't matter, and they are what they are but I cant help but wonder about all this and thought this would be the place to ask. All the stones I have are really good stones, and really solid finishers. Any info or ideas welcome, thanks.

Not that they're my favorites or anything, but im over these cheap, aggravating things. I just pitched the 66 in the photo after taking the edge off. I always noticed that they never got as keen off a 1k as quality razors did. It always seemed to take double the time on the next stone before moving on. I was up almost all night last night trying different 1k's, 800's, a 1500, 2k's, and looking at the edge under magnification. Out of at least 6-7 stones, neither of my GD's would get a clean edge at all. They ping arm hair off the skin somehow, but looked very rough and chippy under magnification.

Its not until I'd jump to a 5k that they'd clean up and be what I'd call a "set bevel". And thats after twice the work I'd put into anything else. Not to mention random chips that just appear for no apparent reason. All my others will take beautiful edges off any of my bevel setters. Once I had the 66 to perfection off a 5k, then went to a Tam O'Shanter with a little slurry and it wrecked it. Looked like id been cutting through cat litter or something. I get they're cheap razors but good grief. I guess its possible that ive got two bad ones, but i doubt it.

All in all, im tired of honing being aggravating instead of pleasant and enjoyable like it is with a good German or American razor(mostly what i own). I kept my gold monkey because its not as bad in many ways, but still it's tough to get a clean edge. I would never suggest these as a first razor or a practice razor for a new person like some do. They dont give you a very good idea of what a quality razor will behave like. To me, thats a good way to turn someone away from straight razor shaving. They're cheap and they will shave but, they're nothing like honing a good razor with quality steel. Anyways, just my opinions and thoughts. Thanks if you read all this.

This is an old Genco that I bought a while ago with a frown for next to nothing. After correcting the frown, I put it on a Naniwa 1k with slurry and went to town. After covering the stone in steel it wouldn't shave arm hair, so i kept going. I always use slurry and get very keen, tree topping edges right off my bevel setter. After going and going, watching closely in the microscope, I noticed the edge wasn't improving, but was consistently rough heel to toe. So I switched to a Chosera 800, then a Shapton 2k both with medium slurry. Same thing again.

Not knowing what to do, I tried a gentler approach moving to a finer stone, King 4k with slurry. I noticed the roughness at the apex got better, like the lands and grooves got smaller but it wouldn't straighten up enough to even shave arm hair. Then it hit me, I moved back to the Shapton 2k without slurry. By the time I saw some swarf on the stone it was plinking arm hair. Another minute and it was tree topping arm hair. Just to test my theory again when I got to 6k(King), I slurried it lightly. The more strokes I made the worse it got.

Its finally shave ready(12k Shapton) but its been super aggravating. Glad this isn't one of my more decent razors, or something I paid much for. I have never had anything like this happen. I was ready to pitch it after trying three different stones and couldn't get it to even shave arm hair. Anyone have any ideas or ever have this happen? I have other Genco Fluid Steels, and other models and they were a breeze. Thanks for reading all this!

This is an old Chosera 800 that I took the base off of. Ive had it forever and hadn't used it much for knives or razors for some reason. I got it out recently and removed a few small chips from a razor and was amazed by how fast they disappeared and edge began tree topping hairs off my arm. This leaves a King 1k or a Super Stone 1k in its dust. Its at least as fast as a Shapton Kuromaku 1k and probably faster, while being less grainy and being nicer to use. Also, I do realize its an 800, but it really does seem good no matter how you look at it. It just seems to be good at everything. Thanks for reading.