Thread: Belgian Blue Grit

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

To make the comparison harder, the blue cuts a lot slower than a 4K waterstone. You could use a Norton 4K to take out chips, but good luck doing that on the Belgian blue.

Josh

The reason I love my shiny new DMT 1200 soooo much

I love the belgian blue stones. They are listed by the Belgians as a 4000 grit stone but they cut fast and polish the edge to something you would expect more of a 6000 grit stone. Among natural stone hones there is no grit standard as there is among artificial stones or diamond stones. I'll never forget trying out a blue the first time as I'd been raised on Arkansas hones and I couldn't believe the blue got the knife sharp so quickly! I also like it because it's a beautiful stone and I'm definitely one of those people that prefers natural stones to artificial ones. The DMT is an artificial stone but of a completely different technology than a Norton, King, or Shapton. DMT stones rock!

Howard,

I hate to take one of the stein meisters to task, but the DMT plates only rock if they lose one of the little rubber jobbiedoos on the bottom.

Sorry

So you're the one I sent that stone to! I don't know folks by their aliases in these conversations. I have to tell you that it is among the top 10 most beautiful naturals I have ever had. Although naturals often have a wavy interface between the coticule and the blue, this one has a lightning like interface and matching band just above. I held onto this stone for awhile as I really wrestled with myself over selling it vs. putting it in my personal collection. It's one of a kind.

I'd kill for a 6x2 yellow blue stone like that ..

I'm standing at x1 2x4 yellow , x1 polygon yellow , x1 6x2 yellow bench stone
My lovely little blue stone is a measly 100x60 I so so wish I'd went for a bigger one now i'm a little more experienced
I agree the blue is slow but I love the way it cuts with a slurry ..I tend to use a lather slurry also

Can't justify it just now while the pound is so weak agianst the euro

Garry

WOW I'm glad you did decide to part with it, I feel very privileged to have it!
Having never seen one before I didn't know exactly what to expect but it sure is a beautiful piece of stone. Now my grandkids will have something to fight over

Originally Posted by Howard

So you're the one I sent that stone to! I don't know folks by their aliases in these conversations. I have to tell you that it is among the top 10 most beautiful naturals I have ever had. Although naturals often have a wavy interface between the coticule and the blue, this one has a lightning like interface and matching band just above. I held onto this stone for awhile as I really wrestled with myself over selling it vs. putting it in my personal collection. It's one of a kind.

Am not sure it makes sense to post my question in this thread but I did not want to create a brand-new threat just for asking this:

Would a Belgian Blue Waterstone be sufficient to be kept as a touch-up hone only or should I get a different hone for that? All of my straights were bought shave ready and all they need once in a while is a touch up. If I really mess up the edge or buy a straight which needs more substantial work, I would send it to any of our usual Suspects here on SRP anyway.

Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by Smoothy

Am not sure it makes sense to post my question in this thread but I did not want to create a brand-new threat just for asking this:

Would a Belgian Blue Waterstone be sufficient to be kept as a touch-up hone only or should I get a different hone for that? All of my straights were bought shave ready and all they need once in a while is a touch up. If I really mess up the edge or buy a straight which needs more substantial work, I would send it to any of our usual Suspects here on SRP anyway.

Thanks in advance!

For touch up you will need simple barber hone. will do the job what you are asking. gl

Wow, old thread!

+1 on the barber stone.

A BBW alone probably isnt very good as a touch up stone as its a lower grit stone, and they seem to work better with slurry as well. A BBW with just water just doesnt seem to work so well IME.

If it were a choice between the BBW and a coticule, I'd say get the coticule. Its higher grit, works with just water, and you can make it much lower grit by using a thick slurry.

You could also use any other high grit natural, or one of the high grit synthetics if you prefer. But a barber hone strikes the perfect balance between effectiveness, size and cost.

I like the bbw side for sharpening after the bevel is set with a DMT or naniwa 1k hone. The coticule, IMO, is best for finishing with water.

Sham is right, barber's hones touch up very well. I use mine with lather when I'm doing a touch up and it only takes 5 nice even careful strokes.