Thread: Looking for BBW honing advice

I own a nice and big BBW bench hone and am saving money up for a set of Shaptons. Until such time, I would like to get better at honing with my BBW.

Some time ago, I shaved with a friend's razor (smooth and sharp Naniwa SS12K edge), dulled it and honed it on the BBW for him to judge. We both agree my edge still had quite some tug, which I noticed all the more this morning shaving the stubble of several days. He finished my edge with 30 X-strokes on the 8K, then 30 on the 12K, after which it performed as he was used to.

I have tried several different techniques, but I really don't know what I should be doing. I mostly get to a shaveable edge with the "BBW Unicot" method as described by Bart (set a good bevel, do 20 X-strokes on watery slurry, finish with 50 edge trailing strokes on very thin slurry), but I would like to get a sharper edge.

Does someone have a good suggestion? I could not find many BBW honing videos, so those are very welcome as well.

Thanks.

I would change to edge leading rather than edge trailing. See if that doesn't improve the shave. You could also try circles but don't do that before changing the edge trailing to edge leading. Do one thing at a time and you'll have a better sense of what worked ..... if it works.

Some lapping film and/or a pasted strop after

That would be what I would be thinking if limited to a BBW

Keep in mind you can shave off a 1k edge but it isn't something I would look forward to each day....

I think you are simply seeing the difference between the hones. A BBW is not a finisher. If it takes some time on the 8k and then the 12k to get the edge you like, I would suggest getting an 8k and a 12k to use after your BBW.

The BBW is an agonizingly slow stone. I'd rather use anything other than that.

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I would change to edge leading rather than edge trailing. See if that doesn't improve the shave. You could also try circles but don't do that before changing the edge trailing to edge leading. Do one thing at a time and you'll have a better sense of what worked ..... if it works.

Funny I had not thought of that before. I really just followed Bart's protocol, but I will experiment a bit.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Some lapping film and/or a pasted strop after

That would be what I would be thinking if limited to a BBW

Keep in mind you can shave off a 1k edge but it isn't something I would look forward to each day....

I will see about the lapping film, that gives me something to play around with and use as a reference for synthetic grits. I read the 1k shave thread and ordered a Shapton 1K to get used to setting good bevels. Soon, I will try the 1K shave to get an idea.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The BBW is an agonizingly slow stone. I'd rather use anything other than that.

Since I have no reference, how slow is slow? Do you have an indication for the number of laps or time spent at a certain slurry thickness?


I thought I was a bit vague in my first post, but you have given me good advice already. I would like to add these more concrete questions:
- What are the "right" slurry thicknesses, if any, for sharpening and for honing? I find that I can get a thin stripe of polished bevel close to the edge on thick, mud-like slurry, but I cannot distinguish that edge from an edge I polished with thin, watery slurry.
- What is the "right" pressure? I have not found differences from no-pressure strokes and light pressure strokes, they both give me similar edges.

The belgian blue whetstone is graded at a 4k level by Ardennes, the mine that harvests them. So some tug is not a surprise. You can always finish on a yellow coticule or other stone at 8k. Then move to a paste if you want.

Originally Posted by Laurens

Thanks guys.



Funny I had not thought of that before. I really just followed Bart's protocol, but I will experiment a bit.



I will see about the lapping film, that gives me something to play around with and use as a reference for synthetic grits. I read the 1k shave thread and ordered a Shapton 1K to get used to setting good bevels. Soon, I will try the 1K shave to get an idea.



Since I have no reference, how slow is slow? Do you have an indication for the number of laps or time spent at a certain slurry thickness?


I thought I was a bit vague in my first post, but you have given me good advice already. I would like to add these more concrete questions:
- What are the "right" slurry thicknesses, if any, for sharpening and for honing? I find that I can get a thin stripe of polished bevel close to the edge on thick, mud-like slurry, but I cannot distinguish that edge from an edge I polished with thin, watery slurry.
- What is the "right" pressure? I have not found differences from no-pressure strokes and light pressure strokes, they both give me similar edges.

Everything is relative.

No, I have no reference for stroke numbers. if you canvass the guys who do a lot of honing you will find few who use that stone because of it's speed. There are just so many better choices out there.

However if that's what you have and are using it you just need to be aware it will take a protracted amount of time.

Perhaps then this time the equipment is to blame, at least partially. I have read very encouraging things about the finish of the Shapton 16K (and all other Shaptons, for that matter), so I think I will just get the 4K, 8K and 16K some time soon and forget the days of struggling on my BBW.

Originally Posted by Laurens

Perhaps then this time the equipment is to blame, at least partially. I have read very encouraging things about the finish of the Shapton 16K (and all other Shaptons, for that matter), so I think I will just get the 4K, 8K and 16K some time soon and forget the days of struggling on my BBW.

Good decision.