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Old 07-03-2008, 02:00 AM   #11 (permalink)
Bart
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heavydutysg135 View Post
One question, in your write up you said that the coticules are graded from 1-4 (up to Kosher) based on their appearance, but this has nothing to do with their performance. In your past write ups you seemed to suggest that you had several coticules performed significantly differently from one another (most or all left a similar scratch pattern, but they cut at very different speeds). At this point do you think that there is any corrolation between a coticule's performance and it's appearance; and if so what do you look for (now that you are one of the forum's experts on these stones ). Otherwise, is the only way to find out about the stones performance to compare it to other coticules via testing. Maybe you already answered this in another thread, if so then can you kindly provide the link.

Thanks,
David
David, I'm in the middle of doing experiments. Under a scope, the scratch patterns from different coticules (2 bought from Ardennes, 1 vintage, and 1 other) show a striking variance.
As for how this all correlates whit the actual edges of these hones touching the face, I can't tell anything conclusive, since testing only recently started, but the first results seem to be in line with what can been seen under magnification.
The thread is here: Scratch pattern pictures

In my "coticule diaries", I wrote about Ardennes' grading system that has nothing to do with the actual honing properties from the stones, but only with the cosmetic appearance, except perhaps for the "Kosher" quality. They are aware of this, at Ardennes, and have plans for installing a grading system that reveals the actual layer that a particular coticule is harvested from, which correlates much more to its honing properties. In fact, a member of this forum recently bought a "Kosher" coticule and it came with the name of the layer written in pencil on the hone. I also received a small one from them myself, as a present that came with an order, that had a "layer designation".

Bart.
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