Coticule - natural combo or backed in slate ?

[dpetrzelka]

I'm looking to get my first coticule and finding that some are backed in slate and others are the natural combo (BWW I believe).

Is there much value for the average user to have the natural combo? Or is slate fine for most straight razor work?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Mike H]

The natural combos are more expensive, and found I seldom used the BBW side.

 

[Thomas Martin]

I used the BBW side once and found no big difference compared to the yellow side.

 

[dpetrzelka]

Great to hear, as it seems easier to find slate backed Coticules in the size I am considering.

thank guys.

 

[Gamma]

The slate can't be used for honing, it's just a substrate to support the yellow side.
The BBW can be used for honing and sharpening.
To me, the size/shape and the stone's characteristics would be the first considerations. Natural combos are nice but not entirely necessary tome most of the time. Useful, but not critical.

 

[life2short1971]

Sometimes it is nice to be able to use the BBW to make up for a stones individual traits but on average I don't use the BBW unless I really have a slow stone or just can't get the Keenness desired from the coticule side. The BBW backed do resell a bit quicker and for a little more but they also cost more in the beginning too....

 

[smalltank]

I have a vintage combo coticule... I DO notice the blue side starts easier and the yellow side needs a few laps to get the "zingg" sound of the blade started...

 

[life2short1971]

I have a vintage combo coticule... I DO notice the blue side starts easier and the yellow side needs a few laps to get the "zingg" sound of the blade started...

FYI That zing sound is from uneven contact with the stone......

 

[Thomas Martin]

Sometimes it is nice to be able to use the BBW to make up for a stones individual traits but on average I don't use the BBW unless I really have a slow stone or just can't get the Keenness desired from the coticule side. The BBW backed do resell a bit quicker and for a little more but they also cost more in the beginning too....

your implying that the BBW is faster? According to my sources (www. coticule.be) it is the other way around. BBW has less garnets and would therefore be slower. They also say that BBW is not suited to be used with water only.

 

[life2short1971]

Don't forget the story of the Tortoise and the Hare please. The BBW while slower on the surface has the ability to sharpen to an extreme keenness on slurry where the coticule does not on most stones.

 

[Sergio Campos]

Don't forget the story of the Tortoise and the Hare please. The BBW while slower on the surface has the ability to sharpen to an extreme keenness on slurry where the coticule does not on most stones.

Really ? How come ? Should I hone with the coticule and then go at it with BBW with slurry ? That sounds counter intuitive. Could you please explain it ?

 

[life2short1971]

When you have a combination BBW?Coticule you have two different stones and how you use them if at all is completely up to you. I was merely sating that if you have a coticule and it is hard to get a good keen edge you can use the BBW to get a keen edge and finish on the coticule or shave from the BBW after stropping without the coticule at all. Sometimes the BBW depending on the stone can be faster to get a keen edge for beginners than the yellow.

 

[Sergio Campos]

When you have a combination BBW?Coticule you have two different stones and how you use them if at all is completely up to you. I was merely sating that if you have a coticule and it is hard to get a good keen edge you can use the BBW to get a keen edge and finish on the coticule or shave from the BBW after stropping without the coticule at all. Sometimes the BBW depending on the stone can be faster to get a keen edge for beginners than the yellow.

I apologize, I didn't mean to sound rude. I have a natural combination stone, and I am trying to learn how to use it, your experience would be much appreciated.

I have heard that the BBW can be a good finisher *after* the coticule, which in itself is kinda counterintuitive. What I understood from your post is that it can be a good finisher with slurry. Maybe I should try that and see how it goes.

 

[life2short1971]

I apologize, I didn't mean to sound rude.

No apologies needed. You did not come across rude in the least. I hope my response did not lead you to believe otherwise. Sometimes the lack of body language can really ruin a good conversation.

 

[life2short1971]

I have heard that the BBW can be a good finisher *after* the coticule, which in itself is kinda counterintuitive. What I understood from your post is that it can be a good finisher with slurry. Maybe I should try that and see how it goes.

I was not trying to imply the BBw w/slurry is a good finisher but instead that you can hone til you have intended kennness and then without dilutions you switch to water or water with a hint of slurry to finish or also flip the stone over and finish on water only or also with the slightest slurry on the yellow side. There is no wrong way if it works for you. I would be happy to help you in any way I can. Feel free to pm or email me any time.

 

[Sergio Campos]

I was not trying to imply the BBw w/slurry is a good finisher but instead that you can hone til you have intended kennness and then without dilutions you switch to water or water with a hint of slurry to finish or also flip the stone over and finish on water only or also with the slightest slurry on the yellow side. There is no wrong way if it works for you. I would be happy to help you in any way I can. Feel free to pm or email me any time.

Ah, I think I get it now, thanks. Not finishing with slurry, but using slurry almost up to the finishing stage, right ? Well, I am trying to learn, but coticules are rather mystical stones, with too much info on them, so sometimes it is too much to absorb. I will learn, eventually. And I might take you up on your offer, if I have questions, thanks.

 

[life2short1971]

Think of coticules as a CVT type automatic transmission if your know about cars.
Yes, you use slurry up to and and into finishing gradually diluting it out with coticules but with BBW you can use slurry then rinse stone and finish with just water if you choose.

 

[Legion]

I have owned a few natural combos. I still have one. They look nice, but I've never been a big user of the BBW side. Never seen much point when the yellow was right there. I'd say save yourself the money and just get slate backed.

 

[life2short1971]

I used to buy only combo stones but I too rarely use BBW anymore. It is nice to have though. Now as long as one stone I own has a BBW i will buy slate backed for the savings.

 

[Sergio Campos]

I used to buy only combo stones but I too rarely use BBW anymore. It is nice to have though. Now as long as one stone I own has a BBW i will buy slate backed for the savings.

My combo stone has a thin coticule, and even though it is not as thin as to have to worry about it, I think using the thicker BBW side for heavier work will save the coticule. So I can hone away without worrying, and maybe even try to use it on knives that I would not be brave enough to apply to the coticule.