Thread: Hone Test: BBW vs DT

The test results are in. First, however, I'd like to talk about how I honed each blade.

These are smilers, so they were both honed using a heal leading, rolling X stroke. Since there was a rolling stroke, I don't think the slight difference in the width of the hones (the DT is a smidge wider) will really matter. Each razor was honed with the same method for the same number of strokes. I first raised a light slurry on the hone using a matching slurry stone, and I then gave the razor 45 passes. I then rinsed the hone and razor. I raised another light slurry and gave the razor 45 more passes. I rinsed the hone and razor. I gave the razor 45 passes with just water, rinsed the hone and razor, and then did another 45 passes with just water. So that's 90 strokes on light slurry (refreshed half way) and 90 strokes with just water (refreshed half way). When I say light slurry, I mean the slurry was barely visible. This may seem like a lot of strokes, but I wanted to be sure each razor got as far as the given hone could go. (I was not comparing cutting speeds, just the edge that the hone could produce.)

In between honing and shaving, each blade got 75 laps on my TM strop. I then took a hot shower, lathered, and shaved.

So, on to the results. I started with the razor off the DT and found that she gave a very passable shave. Just a slight pulling, but far better than I would have expected. I then grabbed the BBW razor and found that she shaved pretty much exactly the same. Again, quite passable. I did a single pass, downward shave, and my face feel BBS when rubbed WTG, and I can barely feel stubble when I run my hands XTG. So my conclusion is that these two hones produce approximately the same edge, and shaving off them is totally tolerable. Can i get a better edge off a finisher, certainly, but I was very impressed with how these two blades shaved. I had anticipated that I would have to grab another blade that had been honed off a finisher to complete the shave, but I saw no need at all. I was quite happy with the shaves off these two hones.

I also think I've found a new way to test razors. Set the bevel, then move to either the BBW or the DT and THEN shave test. If I get a nice shave, move to a finisher and call the blade ready. This should be more informative than shaving after the finisher (if the razor is no good off the BBW/DT then she'll be no good off the finisher).

Now I just need to see what each blade needs on a finisher to get there. I smell another test...

I think I'll compare the Charnley Forest I have on loan to... my Asaigi. And when my three DD Dwarfs arrive, I'll test the CF vs the Asagi vs The People's Hone of Indeterminate Grit (aka the C12k).

Thanks for reading, please discuss at your leisure.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I'm not sure how the DT(Dragon's Tongue) was lapped (McWolf lent her tome), .

Dylan asked me to post my lapping method of the loaned DT, so here it is: It was lapped progressively on a 400 grit and 1000 grit diamond plate, finished with 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper.

Again...what a fun experiment. Although these experiements, on naturals only give us ballpark figures or experiences to work with, i do find them completely useful and always look forward to reading the results.

Thanks,

Mac

Originally Posted by McWolf1969

Dylan asked me to post my lapping method of the loaned DT, so here it is: It was lapped progressively on a 400 grit and 1000 grit diamond plate, finished with 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper.

Thanks for sharing the lapping info, Mac. The guy in the linked thread posted about his lapping, so it seemed I should do the same. I can't say whether or not the lapping is relevant to the hone's performance since I've only used this lapped one, but you never know...

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Thanks for sharing the lapping info, Mac. The guy in the linked thread posted about his lapping, so it seemed I should do the same. I can't say whether or not the lapping is relevant to the hone's performance since I've only used this lapped one, but you never know...

New, the Dragon's Tongues, come quite course, comparitively.

Mac

Originally Posted by McWolf1969

New, the Dragon's Tongues, come quite course, comparitively.

Mac

They certainly do! They have a milled finish, a little like the edge of some coins.

I must say that I'm quite surprised at the results. I have used a DT for a few laps after a coticule, and it certainly made the edge keener, and coticules are (conservatively IMHO) rated around 8000 grit, double that of BBWs. I say that in the full knowledge that grit ratings of natural stones are unreasonable, but you need some basis of evaluation.

A very interesting and thought-provoking experiment...

Interesting results, made me pick up my DT and start messing with it again.

I bought my DT a few months back, because I liked the idea of an obscure natural finishing stone, especially for the low price. I lapped mine with 125, 325, and 1200 DMTs, and finished with 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper, till it was glass smooth. (NOTE: I don't recommend lapping any stone with a DMT 1200, but by this time I had already ruined my DMT 1200 trying to polish a Swaty, so I still keep it around to finish lap natural stones. No good for razors anymore, but what's left of it still works for polishing natural stones).

Like Neil, I've attempted to use my DT as a high-end polisher/finisher, after getting an HHT or near-HHT edge off a coticule. I've tried to finish about 3 razors on the DT, and have only succeeded in dulling them rather than enhancing them. I wrote this up to inexperience with the DT, as I've really found no bad natural hones, only naturally bad honing (like me at times ).

As hard as slate is, it seems like it would really be a fit as a high-end polisher, like a Charnley.

So now I'm inspired to pick the DT up again and get the hang of it. I love the look, feel, size, and price of it, and want it to work for me. Thanks!

It is possible that the DT could work as a finisher - my little test was by no means exhaustive. Maybe if I'd gone from the BBW to the DT I would have gotten better results off the DT. Maybe if I'd done more laps on the DT I would have gotten a better edge off her. I'm not really sure, and I'm not sure what sort of playing around I'm going to do in the future. I'm sure I will do more, since I'm getting a DT of my own, and I'll be sure to post any future findings for all to see.