Originally Posted by
woodsmandave
I've seen the BBW referenced as around a 4k stone before, too. I don't know why some people think that. I know some people do bevel setting on a BBW and finish on the coticule, but I think they do that so as not to waste the valuable coticule side - not because a combo stone is like a 4/8 norton. But the only difference between a BBW and a coticule is the quantity of garnet crystals contained within. 20-30% in the BBW, 30-40% in the coticule. In my mind, that makes the BBW a slower cutter, but not something lower in grit. You should read the study done on this subject, it's very interesting. I can't attest to the scratch pattern, but some people might look at the bevel of the coticule and say that there's no scratch pattern there, either. I wouldn't say that, but some would...