BBW & Coticule Slurry Experiment
So I have had a little experiment with a relatively soft steel in a 5/8th Wapienica:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/honing/75142-gradually-improving-edge-experience.html
Some time ago I began to experiment with this same edge I've familiarized myself with, this time with light slurries on the spyderco ultra-fine (my finisher). First I did a belgian blue waterstone slurry and that produced rough shaves, irritation all over for more than a day. This lasted past the fourth shave so I knew it wasn't the finisher (which can be harsh for 1-3 shaves, but usually not more than two). I also taped and re-honed a 9/16th Geneva, which are known to be hard American carbon steel razors. The harder Geneva was given an equivalent primary bevel width to the Wapienica, just so you know. The reason I make note of the cutting edge's bevel width is it helps to gauge the steel's hardness and response to the hones, as well as the honer's ability to hone, by keeping the surface area of the edge's ratio to perceived pressure of the honer more constant between razors. The Geneva was sharp enough to cut well, and was giving harsh shaves, but wasn't nearly as harsh as the Wapienica with the same light BBW slurry. I'm guessing that because the Geneva was harder it was less degraded with the BBW slurry, and only because of less degradation was it an okayish shave. I don't like the shaves off the BBW slurry on the finisher, diluting to clear with water on the spyderco ultra-fine.
Because I wasn't able to "break down" the BBW's slurry adequately I can't delude myself into thinking I had finished a blade with something like reports of the BBW as a possible finisher. But I know I hate that slurry for a finished edge! I went back to my beloved Wapienica and gave it a coticule slurry, of similar lightness to the BBW, from my BBW/coticule "bout" (slurry stone). Now... Wapienica being a softer steel that can take a smooth, gentle edge... whoo boy! You can see from my linked experiment with this razor as a learning tool that I didn't bother to take the Wapienica to "ultimate sharpness" or some other nonsense! I estimate the coticule slurry spydie UF to have been no more than 35-40 laps, as I recall. That edge proved to be just a little harsh for only one shave, after that... oh my oh my they are selling re-scaled NOSs like I got from the polish dealer on eBay back in '08 for over a hundred dollars these days, aren't they? Makes sense to me. Coticule slurry was delightful. Similar dilutions, same finishing hone (really using the highest grit to prevent slurry swarf from lodging into the hone) for practically the same number of laps. Same bevel width. Definitely different hardnesses between the Wapi and the Geneva.
Next I'll have to go back to the Geneva, which kept its edge better under the Belgian Assault, and see what a coticule slurry can do! Also must note I used my pre-finisher, my Norton 8k*, to reset the Wapienica's edge between the BBW and coticule light slurry finishes.
*for the record my pre-finisher 8k is a serviceable finishing stone for many, especially w/ crox pasted strop.
I'm wondering how I can help to "develop" the BBW slurry without adding steel swarf to the mix on my finisher. I have a Chinese "12k" bout which I don't think I can use on the spyderco ultra-fine because it is of high enough grit to get lodged into the ridiculously awful, obviously machined lapping. It hasn't produced disasterous impactions but I can see it on two inches of one end of the hone. If it weren't for the terrible machined lapping and the equivalent fineness of grit on that Spyderco I'd freely use that, because the Chinese bout is so hard and very fine slurry particles probably wouldn't interfere with the finished product, the bulk of the slurry particles would be the BBW for sure.
I know I know... give my face a rest. It hasn't been a terrible experiment. I just have a few days of pinkness, not bad enough for soreness or tenderness, my face shows it through discoloration well before pain or sensitivity. It makes my face the perfect experimental laboratory! Whoopee! I have resumed "the good life" with a Sheffield steel English, smiley classic (Taylor Eye Witness Imperial Service razor) whose edge apparently degraded enough to be unrecognizable to the person who honed it a year and a half ago (me!). Whether it was from oxidation or it had collapsed after the 2-3 acceptable shaves it provided so long ago... I don't know. But, if Sheffield steel has a reputation as softer razor steels I looked at the slight hone wear, the narrowness of its spine and the width (almost 6/8th) and concluded it could benefit from one layer of tape. So, primary edge bevel 1 layer on secondary untaped bevel... Naniwa 5k clean-up (awful micro-chipping yikes!), Norton 8k polish, Spyderco ultra-fine (but not too far, content to learn the lessons of the linked post) and then I CHEATED by finally finishing on the chromium oxide pasted paddle strop (Tony Miller, no longer vintage since he resumed production (damn!)). I haven't used the "crox" for over a year and a half! I'm kidding about it being cheating. I really appreciate it strengthening an edge with slight rounding, because I already found reason to tape the razor. I re-stropped after the chromium and wow did that thing make a raucous! 6/8thish full hollow racket! It was 10-15 laps on crox and what a sweet, smooth shave. Very little harshness (haven't shaved with a crox-finished blade in a long time so it's important to note the difference in my skill). Second shave was as smooth and gentle as I've learned to expect.
Delicious. I'm kidding about cheating, I was just holding back from the crox because I wanted to gauge what was happening to the edges and the resultant shaves off them without having an excellent final finishing stage obscuring the honer's skill and finishes off the hone(s) w/ or w/o slurry. Maybe some of the Sheffield steels have a reputation for not taking a high-grit synthetic well, and maybe that was part of the Taylor's downful (can't say, it was too long ago and never checked it with a microscope after using it a few times, also may have been the edge need obtusification), but this Taylor has taken to high-grit finishes very well. Oh, because of the taping I happened upon a primary edge bevel width similar to the Geneva and the Wapienica. This taping thing allows for a level of edge control beyond simply fixing overly acute (i.e. fragile) edges and preventing spine wear. Lots of fun!
Now I have some wedges almost completed (3) that I can learn how to hone, just a few shallow chips left in the intended secondary bevels set with only one layer of tape, of course. I really appreciate being able to control the primary bevel's width utilizing tape. I think I'm pretty much done trying to critique myself on the honing, shaving with razors not finished on the crox. But it was certainly useful for seeing what that coticule slurry did for that Wapienica.
Thoughts? Ideas? Advice?