Thread: Hone of the Day

The BBW and the coti have the same size garnets, just different densities. That means it’s easier to sneak up on an edge with the BBW - it takes more time, but provides greater opportunity to refine the edge. Some folks suggest using the coti to set the bevel and then take it shave ready, but finish with the BBW.

For those used to the well-defined grit ratings of synthetic stones, this really must seem counter intuitive.

There are BBW and there are BBW and then there are backers only.

Some blue stones are more towards the La Lune purple stone. Take a look at the (Re-Release of the French La Lune Stones) thread and some of the other BBW post.

BBW as a class can run all over the map, but all “Blue” stones are not the same.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

There are BBW and there are BBW and then there are backers only.

Some blue stones are more towards the La Lune purple stone. Take a look at the (Re-Release of the French La Lune Stones) thread and some of the other BBW post.

BBW as a class can run all over the map, but all “Blue” stones are not the same.

That's true.

What I meant was using the BBW on my natural combo Veinettes yielded better results for me than the Coti side. Same for La Grise and Nouvelle veine, well actually on all of my natural combos.

Will take a look at that thread. I also have a Lorraine and would like to know more about the La Lune stones.

I agree, I have several old natural combo coticules that perform better on the Blue side than the coticule.

I also have several Purple/Blue stones and Vosigine that perform better than may coticules. Some purple and some as dark as chocolate of unknow origin.

But yes, the “Blue” side can be a performer and they cannot all be lumped together as “Blue.”

Honed a Brookes and Crookes Sheffield razor using the same progression: 1K -> 3K -> 5K -> natural combo Coti -> natural combo BBW

Same fantastic result. Stunning shave, no shave prep, pure lathering up and shaving.
Zero pulling, very sharp, keen and smooth edge. Very enjoyable results.
I tried a Coti finish, but the keenness coming off mine doesn't even begin to compare to that of its BBW side.

I did finish with a stropping motion on the BBW and it did feel different, not crisp, but more smoothed out. Excellent.

There was a thread about BBW vs coticule: https://sharprazorpalace.com/hones/1...le-vs-bbw.html

This seems to come up for discussion every once in a while.

Got two nice razors from the same guy I got recently the Ozuku to test. The guy said he used these three/four years ago but wasn't satisfied with their cut, expecially ATG, as they pulled. So he abandoned the straights and went back to DE.

I gave a look to the razors with my Microscope (thumb test & harmhair cut test passed) and saw a sort of strange micro-bevel on the Bengall and a not so nice edge on the Allen. Before giving them back I suggested to give them a chance (as both are quite nice razors) and the guy agreed.

Decided first to try leaving the bevels (or whatever they are) as they cut, so yesterday I passed both directly on the Ozuku, using (as discussed with @euclid440 in another thread) first thick diamond slurry and then, after washing the stone, a lighter one. The only difference was the use of 1 layer of standard tape for the Bengall (in order to mantain a narrow bevel) and 1 layer of Kapton for the Allen which had a normal one.

Today I shaved with both and they were smooth and keen (maybe too much) during the shave, but gave me some itching on the neck during next few hours (nothing special, but as sometimes happens to me when the razors are very sharp). No pull and easy passes on ATG. Think I'll have to strop a bit more to sweeten the cut...

Note: the chip on the Bengall's edge passed the thumbnail test after stropping and gave no problem during the shave.


T.R. Cadman - Bengall











J.Allen

First, when doing edge correction, chip removal or edge reshaping it is not unusual for the edge to be ragged or flashed, (a light burr). You can joint, even on the finish stone and reset or strop on Chromium Oxide and reset the edge.

I often strop on a Sailcloth, Chrome Oxide strop between the stones and at the finish stone. Strop and reset the bevel with some final laps.

Chromium Oxide is about .50 um about 20-30k grit, aggressive but able to leave a fine finish, and inexpensive. Just make sure you are getting pure Chrome Oxide not a green polishing compound.

You can also try using a tomo slurry for final finishing. So, it is not uncommon for the razor to shave well but feel extra keen. It is the light flashing where the steel was weakened form the damage and a bit more of the edge must be removed to get to solid steel.

Quality stropping on linen and leather can also help. Clean linen can clean an edge, leather straightens and polishes.

Originally Posted by DZEC

There was a thread about BBW vs coticule: https://sharprazorpalace.com/hones/1...le-vs-bbw.html

This seems to come up for discussion every once in a while.

Ah yes lol

I always forget how well I like my BBW edges for some reason.

There was another fella on the ol' Coticule forums that also honed on his BBW, dry.

I do this often as well; I know many people on the ol' forum didn't like that or cringed at the idea.
But personally I found it an easy and fast way to hone/finish with great results.
For me it works really well and I can easily tell which side of my Coti / BBW is finer by the feedback you feel, which is very high when honing dry.

For finishing I do light pressured half strokes on my BBW and wait until my entire edge feels smoothed out. Maybe some very light finishing x-strokes edge leading or trailing, but not always. Good stropping always a must. Works well. Stones feel "burnished" by using them this way, which might help for smoothing things out maybe too?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

First, when doing edge correction, chip removal or edge reshaping it is not unusual for the edge to be ragged or flashed, (a light burr). You can joint, even on the finish stone and reset or strop on Chromium Oxide and reset the edge.

I often strop on a Sailcloth, Chrome Oxide strop between the stones and at the finish stone. Strop and reset the bevel with some final laps.

Chromium Oxide is about .50 um about 20-30k grit, aggressive but able to leave a fine finish, and inexpensive. Just make sure you are getting pure Chrome Oxide not a green polishing compound.

You can also try using a tomo slurry for final finishing. So, it is not uncommon for the razor to shave well but feel extra keen. It is the light flashing where the steel was weakened form the damage and a bit more of the edge must be removed to get to solid steel.

Quality stropping on linen and leather can also help. Clean linen can clean an edge, leather straightens and polishes.

Forgot to say I jointed the edge a couple of times for both the razors, but evidently it wasn't enough. Btw. just ordered a linen strop 'cause had just a leather strop. Regarding the Tomo... it's on my wishlist (Tsushima, Mejiro & Nakayama or Ozuku Hard Tomo)