Straight Razor Place Forums

Bart · 07-02-2008, 08:13 PM

Some time ago I did a 3 day hike, together with two friends, through the area were coticule is found in Belgium. We visited the last operational quarry, had a great time and learned many things about coticule. Some members have expressed an interest in our whereabouts, so, here I am, posting part 1 of our story. It requires a bit of reading, and I must ask you all to bare with my use of the English language. It's not my native language, so I guess I make many mistakes.
Part 2 will follow shortly, and includes much more pictures than text, which, considering the above, is probably a good thing.

Best regards,

Bart.

ChrisL · 07-02-2008, 08:42 PM

Bart:

Thank you so much for producing such an excellent piece on your travels. I read every word and found it wonderful. I'm also humbled by your mastery of the English language.

I can't wait for more!!!

Chris L

JimmyHAD · 07-02-2008, 08:46 PM

Magnificent!

heavydutysg135 · 07-02-2008, 08:51 PM

Really really nice write up! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

clrobert60 · 07-02-2008, 09:18 PM

That's a great write-up, I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment

heavydutysg135 · 07-02-2008, 11:39 PM

If you make a return trip to the mines then you can put you arms over each other's shoulders, skip, and sing "follow the Belgian Blue Road, follow the Belgian Blue Road, follow follow follow follow the belgian blue road..."

Bad joke

. Seriously though, I really really wish that I could go on a treasure hunt with you guys; in America we don't have valuable stones laying on the ground for the pickin

heavydutysg135 · 07-02-2008, 11:47 PM

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

Bart · 07-02-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

If you make a return trip to the mines then you can put you arms over each other's shoulders, skip, and sing "follow the Belgian Blue Road, follow the Belgian Blue Road, follow follow follow follow the belgian blue road..." Bad joke . Seriously though, I really really wish that I could go on a treasure hunt with you guys; in America we don't have valuable stones laying on the ground for the pickin

No, but In America, you can click your heels three times, think a happy thought, and find yourself on the Yellow Road, which is better still than the Blue Road. Remember, Dorothy, you can shave right of the Yellow Road.

If you ever make the trip over the ocean, and you need a place to stay, just let me know.

PS. We have a smilies police on SRP now... "You have included 9 images in your message. You are limited to using 7 images so please go back and correct the problem and then continue again. Images include use of smilies, the BB code [img]http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/advanced-honing-topics/ tag and HTML <img> tags. The use of these is all subject to them being enabled by the administrator."

heavydutysg135 · 07-02-2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart

PS. We have a smilies police on SRP now... "You have included 9 images in your message. You are limited to using 7 images so please go back and correct the problem and then continue again. Images include use of smilies, the BB code [img]http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/advanced-honing-topics/ tag and HTML <img> tags. The use of these is all subject to them being enabled by the administrator."

Don't worry about them too much, they have got caught me a few times before and I am still here to tell the tale.

netsurfr · 07-03-2008, 12:12 AM

thanks for taking the time to put this information and documentation together.

Bart · 07-03-2008, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

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.

JoshEarl · 07-03-2008, 02:09 PM

Bart,

This is fascinating. I hope Howard chimes in. I didn't realize that the grading system was based on the hone's appearance rather than its performance, however they might try to ascertain that. This is yet another reason to buy a hone from someone like Howard who knows how a coticule should treat a razor.

BTW, I sometimes think about starting a drive to get exclaimation points put on the "nine or fewer" list. Of course, that would mainly hit JMS...

Josh

blaireau · 07-03-2008, 04:05 PM

Bart, all that I want to know is if you picked up the big natural on your way back!?!?!?

Bart · 07-03-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaireau

Bart, all that I want to know is if you picked up the big natural on your way back!?!?!?

Lets just say that "Cotucule County" is only a 9O minute drive from my place, and that my car has a trunk.

blaireau · 07-03-2008, 06:30 PM

Bart, it is a tragedy, but I was born in the USA and not in Wallonia. However, it is well known (as per the most eminent US geologist, Al Gore) that the "Low Country", where you live, will be under water momentarily due to Global Warming melting the polar ice caps! You must send the sacred natural to me for safekeeping ASAP so as to prevent it being lost as you drown!!!

I will PM my address post haste. Best regards, Rich.

Bart · 03-09-2009, 06:19 PM

Thought I'd bump this.

khat · 03-09-2009, 07:49 PM

What a great read! Thanks.How amazing it must have been to walk among those stones!

FloorPizza · 03-09-2009, 08:29 PM

Glad you bumped this, Bart!

What a great read.... what beautiful scenery.

Belgium is now on my "must visit" list.

Bart · 03-09-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloorPizza

Glad you bumped this, Bart!

What a great read.... what beautiful scenery.

Belgium is now on my "must visit" list.

Well I figured there are a lot of new members that probably never saw these threads, and I needed to look them up for someone anyway...
Should you visit my country at some point, don't hesitate to contact me, I'd be glad to show you around a bit.

Bart.

Zwaplat · 03-18-2009, 08:45 AM

I'd love to visit Coticule County and the quarry. Did you just get a tour asking for it Bart, or do you have special connections ?

I'm fascinated by geology, mines, caves,... only reason I didn't study geology was the huge amount of maths and physics courses involved.

If I have time this summer, I really want to go to the shop to get me a coticule when I'm back in Belgium. Lets just hope SWMBO agrees.