I have a natural BBW/Coticule combination hone. I read somewhere that a BBW has about half the garnet content of a coticule. I also read a rating of the BBW at about 6k grit.

Here's the question: if the BBW has the same abrasive particles as the coticule (garnets), and if the BBW has half the number of such particles, does the BBW ultimately produce the same level of smoothness as the coticule, only taking twice as long?

Or, alternatively, is the abrasive effect of the BBW simply at a lower grit level, for some reason?

Here's an example of a practical application of that question: If I have set the bevel at 1K and also used a 4k grit stone (Chinese in this case), would it be practical to go through the BBW before hitting the coti?

I also have a Welsh 8K (Dragon's tongue) and have been most often going through this progression: 1K (Chosera), 4K (Chinese), 8K (Dragon's Tongue), coticule or Thuringian, Charnley Forest. (I also sometimes finish on the Thuringian or even on a Welsh 12K or Chinese 12K).

Joe