Quote Originally Posted by Smoothy View Post
...after reading that the BBW is more or less a 4K stone...
I'm a relative newcomer to honing razors, but I'd say it's a mistake to judge a natural stone on its estimated grit size. Apart from the fact that it is an estimation (nature doesn't filter its rock particles though meshes when laying down strata), the shape of the grit particles is also important - more rounded particles can make a better edge than sharp pointy particles of the same size.

I'd also suggest trying a BBW with lather as a finishing step - so far I've found a lather stage makes a significant improvement to the edge I can get from various Naniwa stones and from Welsh slate.

As a disclaimer, I must admit I'm saying this from precisely no BBW or coticule experience, though I do have a combo on its way to me and I'm certainly going to see what I can get from the BBW side.

Alan