Thread: My experience with the BBW

Interesting comments, but a lot of variables so I would venture that it is how you are particularly playing the game given a unique set of circumstances. That said, I have a small nouvelle veine coti/BBW no. 6 or no. 7 combo bout I picked up last summer that feels a bit like you describe. The yellow side feels like a scrub-board and the blue side feels much finer. I've been tempted to reverse it like you say (although used conventionally with water and followed by an oiled piece of purple slate, it works great). I also have a 40mm x 125mm BBW that seems to cut finer with water than my coticules. Streaking of this BBW is different than other BBWs I"ve seen. It has thin, darker veins running on a slight diagonal lengthwise.

I've tried different naturals and had different results on the same type of stones (not the same stones)

I tried the BBW with oil just now and I think this is my preferred method to date. (I didn't do many strokes, just a few but I noticed a difference)

The keenness of the BBW blows the keenness from the Coti out of the water for me, it's so sharp and cuts so easily through heavy whiskers. Even without a prep and just lathering up, it cuts effortlessly.

Indeed a lot of variables, but there's definitely something about these BBWs and so far I've been liking the results.
A little crispiness remains, but I think doing more work on oil might help with that.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

I've found just about every natural I've used, works well going from wet to dry.

I agree with you 110%

Originally Posted by RayClem

From what I have seen, Murray Carter is the one who champions both spine leading honing and also stropping on newspaper. His techniques are somewhat controversial in the straight razor community. He is a trained Japanese bladesmith operating as Carter Cutlery, so he does have reasoning behind his methods. I am not in a position to either endorsing or challenging his techniques. I believe they have some merit, especially when used on certain high grit synthetic or natural stones. If you are interested in his techniques, look up the CarterCutlery channel on YouTube.

Murray is a great bladesmith & I will never say otherwise, however his sharp is not our sharp. I purchased one of his knives simply because I have and still use a pattern of his with my knives.

Long story short, I sharpened the knife after carrying it a few days as it was not what I call sharp.

I have not tried finishing on BBW but I do notice that if I use BBW for a good bit then finish on the coti it is a lot smoother. Coti side is sharper for me but if I come from BBW it is a little bit less sharp but a good bit more smoother.

As a big fan of the belgian hones I will try this. Just to clarify you are using them like this:

Dry

Half strokes and x strokes on yellow side
Go to bbw side and do the same but then finish on backward spine leading circles..very light pressure only weight of the blade?

I pmed a member the other day about back honing on coticules. I said I thought the garnets did less damage to the edge that way as they roll under the edge and don't seem to hit it head on.

Originally Posted by Disburden

I pmed a member the other day about back honing on coticules. I said I thought the garnets did less damage to the edge that way as they roll under the edge and don't seem to hit it head on.

It's worth a shot, even with water. The owner of the Saurat stones from the French Pyrenees recommends a spine-leading pass with knives, and these stones are sold by Ardennes coticule as part of a combo stone with a BBW.

Originally Posted by Disburden

Dry

Half strokes and x strokes on yellow side
Go to bbw side and do the same but then finish on backward spine leading circles..very light pressure only weight of the blade?

Yups

Today after finishing dry, I added some oil and finished on backward strokes on oil, gave a little smoother edge if my perception is correct

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

Yups

Today after finishing dry, I added some oil and finished on backward strokes on oil, gave a little smoother edge if my perception is correct

Let us know how it shaved.
Been experimenting with back honing and slurry too

My normal muscle memory stroke has about 1/4 stone backstroke with each stroke.