Thread: I've got the Belgian "Blues"

Since playing and experimenting with my different coti's. I've developed some curiosity with my BBW's as well, mainly in use the middle stage while trying to max out sharpness before going back to the coti on just water. Keep in mind that up to this point, I've only touched up on coti's and used BBW's in creating a new edge. Last week I decided to experiment with touching up a razor on a BBW to see how it would compare to my coti's. I started on regular slurry, then diluted it once or twice, then I rinsed it off and went to soapy water for 50 or so strokes. Then I touched my razor up on my La Veinette coticule for like 6 x -strokes (since it is a softer, velvety stone) and took my blade to some CrOx and Dovo red paste. The result was an edge that was as smooth and mellow as any coti edge I've tried, yet it was much keener/sharper so I easily gave mysefl nearly BBS in two passes and went for a 3rd to chase that final 1-2%. This is the 3rd BBW, that I have used and have had sucess with. I know they tend to get a bad rap as being useless much of the time, but I think these when used in different ways are actually as good an option as a coti, atleast when it comes to touching up a razor and maxing out its sharpness/keenness. They are also plentiful (much more so then coticules) and can be had for much less $$$. These are the plain, jane purple looking ones, mind you, not those rare vintage salms. I've come to love these stones.

Dovo red after? That is quite a coarse paste. Not sure that qualifies as a bbw edge as the very edge will be the paste finish. You have got me curious to try finishing on my bbw at some point now.

Originally Posted by dmnc

Dovo red after? That is quite a coarse paste. Not sure that qualifies as a bbw edge as the very edge will be the paste finish. You have got me curious to try finishing on my bbw at some point now.

I thought the red paste was iron oxide, but it turns out its the dovo red paste. It came already on the strop.

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Herold-...Leather--20626

I,ve used red Dovo or herold paste and it leaves a nice edge . Despite saying its course I,ve found it very similar to crox. I no they say red is 3 micron or something but I really does,nt feel like it is. The only thing I would say is your not shaving of the coticule your shaving of the paste and if you get the most from your blue or yellow the red paste would,nt make a difference . Try shaving of the coticule it will feel smooth enough.

Yeah seems I always see guys talking about this or that stone gives a great shave, but oh yeah I used this pasted strop or that pasted strop after the stone. To me, that's not shaving with an edge from the stone, that's shaving with a pasted strop edge.

There's nothing wrong with using a pasted strop edge, I've certainly used them and am using them right now on a HSS razor (CBN and diamond) because nothing else can cut it as well!

That said, when I hone a razor on a finishing stone, I never use a pasted strop afterward. It really is possible to get edges just as good straight from the stone. I can't really tell much of a difference between a good edge straight from the stone (only stropped on bare leather) and an edge finished on a pasted strop when they're both done right.

I gotta admit I do like the BBW a lot. I only hone on natural stones, since it's my preference.
The BBW has a staple place in my honing routine. Dilutions is what I do as well, and afterwards I go to a coti or escher. It's the perfect hone for perfecting the bevel and reaching maximum keenness.
I can also set bevels with it, but that can be quite time consuming depending on how far off the bevel is; but it's fun to do so!

I just now am in the process of removing a chip from a razor and I'm not sure why, but I'm using my Coti slurry stone on the BBW, it seems to speed up the BBW and it feels great to hone using this method.
It's taking me hours, since it's a big chip, but it's not painfully slow and it feels great to do so.
The polish I get is not bad either! I'm using my BBW since it's a large stone and they're cheap, I'd rather use up some of this stone than of my Coti's ergo my "reasoning", cogito ergo sum, I guess

Nevertheless a BBW is a gorgeous piece of stone to look at, I can do bevel setting to almost finishing with it. I can't quite reach the finish I want on a razor, but it's close.
Wonderful stones, I think I've once dry honed on these a long time ago with satisfying results as well. Now I should try lather some day.

Lovely pieces of rock, functional and beautiful! If only I could find a woman like that

I was advised for my La Lorraine (salm type). That you can finish on oil. I've not used the stone enough to have learnt it yet but I got a decent shave edge on oil with it without any heavy pastes.

I need to play more with it but It certainly seems capable and there was a huge thread over on Coticule.be that got published about a blind test of coticule v/s BBW. The results are actually pretty interesting.

http://www.coticule.be/the-cafeteria/topic/1452.html

Originally Posted by eKretz

Yeah seems I always see guys talking about this or that stone gives a great shave, but oh yeah I used this pasted strop or that pasted strop after the stone. To me, that's not shaving with an edge from the stone, that's shaving with a pasted strop edge.

There's nothing wrong with using a pasted strop edge, I've certainly used them and am using them right now on a HSS razor (CBN and diamond) because nothing else can cut it as well!

That said, when I hone a razor on a finishing stone, I never use a pasted strop afterward. It really is possible to get edges just as good straight from the stone. I can't really tell much of a difference between a good edge straight from the stone (only stropped on bare leather) and an edge finished on a pasted strop when they're both done right.

I use the pastes to tame and smooth out a harshly sharp edge.

Originally Posted by ShaveWares

I use the pastes to tame and smooth out a harshly sharp edge.

Like above says there is nothing wrong with using paste . I still to this day love experimenting with paste, diamond spray on felt etc.

Trust me you should,nt have to use paste to tame a coticule edge , the only time I would use paste after a coticule? Would be to gain more keenness that did,nt manage to achieve of the stone. coticules leave a mushy mellow feel that feels smooth but not hypo sharp I.e duller feel.

The other thing I,ve found is sharpening paste works well if you come of your stone with a good edge , if it's subpar coming of the stone, the paste won't be as effective and you won't get the best from your choice of paste.

Originally Posted by dmnc

Dovo red after? That is quite a coarse paste. Not sure that qualifies as a bbw edge as the very edge will be the paste finish. You have got me curious to try finishing on my bbw at some point now.

My point was that I got the edge very sharp on a 3 different BBW's and added smoothness with the paste so a pasted bbw edge is both sharp and smooth.

Originally Posted by eKretz

Yeah seems I always see guys talking about this or that stone gives a great shave, but oh yeah I used this pasted strop or that pasted strop after the stone. To me, that's not shaving with an edge from the stone, that's shaving with a pasted strop edge.

There's nothing wrong with using a pasted strop edge, I've certainly used them and am using them right now on a HSS razor (CBN and diamond) because nothing else can cut it as well!

That said, when I hone a razor on a finishing stone, I never use a pasted strop afterward. It really is possible to get edges just as good straight from the stone. I can't really tell much of a difference between a good edge straight from the stone (only stropped on bare leather) and an edge finished on a pasted strop when they're both done right.

The edge pasted off of a coticule is still different off of a synthetic. I have gotten my razors synthetic sharp (too sharp for my liking) on my bbw's and coti's, going to the pastes afterwards takes care of that and perfects the edge for my skin.

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

I gotta admit I do like the BBW a lot. I only hone on natural stones, since it's my preference.
The BBW has a staple place in my honing routine. Dilutions is what I do as well, and afterwards I go to a coti or escher. It's the perfect hone for perfecting the bevel and reaching maximum keenness.
I can also set bevels with it, but that can be quite time consuming depending on how far off the bevel is; but it's fun to do so!

I just now am in the process of removing a chip from a razor and I'm not sure why, but I'm using my Coti slurry stone on the BBW, it seems to speed up the BBW and it feels great to hone using this method.
It's taking me hours, since it's a big chip, but it's not painfully slow and it feels great to do so.
The polish I get is not bad either! I'm using my BBW since it's a large stone and they're cheap, I'd rather use up some of this stone than of my Coti's ergo my "reasoning", cogito ergo sum, I guess

Nevertheless a BBW is a gorgeous piece of stone to look at, I can do bevel setting to almost finishing with it. I can't quite reach the finish I want on a razor, but it's close.
Wonderful stones, I think I've once dry honed on these a long time ago with satisfying results as well. Now I should try lather some day.

Lovely pieces of rock, functional and beautiful! If only I could find a woman like that

You should try a La Pyranese from Ardennes Coticule, they are coarse enough (estimated around 1k grit by Ardennes) for repairing the edge at a faster rate then a coti or bbw.

Originally Posted by Iceni

I was advised for my La Lorraine (salm type). That you can finish on oil. I've not used the stone enough to have learnt it yet but I got a decent shave edge on oil with it without any heavy pastes.

I need to play more with it but It certainly seems capable and there was a huge thread over on Coticule.be that got published about a blind test of coticule v/s BBW. The results are actually pretty interesting.

http://www.coticule.be/the-cafeteria/topic/1452.html

I use soapy water when finishing on my bbw's and coti's. It's less messy and there is no cleanup needed with it vs the oil.

Originally Posted by gary haywood

Like above says there is nothing wrong with using paste . I still to this day love experimenting with paste, diamond spray on felt etc.

Trust me you should,nt have to use paste to tame a coticule edge , the only time I would use paste after a coticule? Would be to gain more keenness that did,nt manage to achieve of the stone. coticules leave a mushy mellow feel that feels smooth but not hypo sharp I.e duller feel.

The other thing I,ve found is sharpening paste works well if you come of your stone with a good edge , if it's subpar coming of the stone, the paste won't be as effective and you won't get the best from your choice of paste.

I know what you are saying, but when I have gotten the edge too sharp for my liking (ie, I'm cutting myself like I did when my edges were honed on Shaptons) the pastes helped take care of that problem and tamed it to the perfect level of sharpness and smoothness for my skins liking so I could get BBW, irritation-free shaves.