Thread: Honing videos

thanks again U. so i've hit the BBW for the 1st time. I think you're right about the flattening stone… a sheet of 600 wet to dry paper was much better, faster to lap the BBW. come to think of it, this might also be the best way to raise a slurry on it because the BBW(yellow) slurry stone was very slow. I will try that next time perhaps. My results using the BBW(yellow) slurry stone on the BBW and diluting as i went were pretty good. certainly not outstanding though. however after a good hemp and leather strop i had a pretty nice shave. I was tempted but refrained from finishing on a nani 12k before shaving…i was hoping i wouldn't need it but not sure yet if that would have been an improvement. another one for next time.
During that consideration I was wondering about raising a slurry on the nani 12k with the BBW(yellow)slurry stone and finishing on that. Have I gone completely mad??
BTW I found gsixguns vids but nothing with simply a BBW

Really bad idea to use wetndri for slurry as you will have coarse sandpaper particles in your slurry.

Same thing using a bbw on a nani 12k you will mix coarse particles on a finer base stone.

How come your blue slurry stone is yellow ?

yeah I kinda realised that as i'd finished typing…about the sandpaper der!
When i say BBW (yellow) I mean that it's actually a piece of yellow cuticle as opposed to the blue so perhaps i should call it the BYW. from what i know (which is clearly limited) or at least what i thought was that the yellow particles were extremely fine and very capable of cutting a very fine edge.(finest even??) Finer even than that of the nani 12k…..and now i'm confused even listening to that. help required! I guess, I'm just trying to find whats most suitable to achieve the finest possible edge with what tools i have. like everyone else.

When you bought your BBW did you tell them what you were going to use it for? They will recommend stones for razor use.

BBW and Coticules are some of the most difficult stones to lean to hone on and can vary greatly, few are capable of producing razor quality edges.

http://www.coticule.be/ is full of good coticule information.

Learn on synthetic stones, once mastered, then experiment with naturals.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Learn on synthetic stones, once mastered, then experiment with naturals.

He has made no mention of synthetic hones other than his lapper, so as far as I know, naturals are what he has to work with.

Originally Posted by jonjo

yeah I kinda realised that as i'd finished typing…about the sandpaper der!
When i say BBW (yellow) I mean that it's actually a piece of yellow cuticle as opposed to the blue so perhaps i should call it the BYW. from what i know (which is clearly limited) or at least what i thought was that the yellow particles were extremely fine and very capable of cutting a very fine edge.(finest even??) Finer even than that of the nani 12k…..and now i'm confused even listening to that. help required! I guess, I'm just trying to find whats most suitable to achieve the finest possible edge with what tools i have. like everyone else.

Well, I'm confused. I asked if a coticule was involved and you said no so I was under the impression that you only had a BBW. Would you please clarify what it is that you have to work with for hones?

A BBW is dark blue and a coticule is yellow. Do you have a BBW hone and a coticule bout for slurry?

If you do have a coticule of any size, is it backed by a BBW or a piece of slate? (you can tell by its slurry--BBW produces purple and slate produces white)

You also have the Naniwa lapping hone, but what else do you have for hones?

And here I thought I couldn't get more confused!! Tc

sorry, i just said that the slurry stone was a piece of yellow cuticle. for use as a slurry stone only. to use with the BBW, which is dark in colour yes

Google search the term

One Stone Honing

You will find some Vids from Lynn and I using various Stones and Slurry

What you are asking for is a bit odd so you are going to have to work your own way through what is going to work with your combo,, but the One Stone Honing vids will show you the path..

Good Luck

Thank you and sorry to confuse everyone. perhaps i'll grow a beard

Originally Posted by jonjo

perhaps i'll grow a beard

Don't worry, we'll get you sorted out. Glen actually did answer your question. The one stone honing is what you are going to have to do since you've got one stone.


Now, if you are going to be doing anything beyond refreshing the edge of a previously sharp shave ready razor, that coticule slurry stone is going to be your best friend. You will want to make a milky slurry and hone on that until your razor feels like it is getting sharp to the touch of your thumb (TPT=thumb pad test) and then you will gradually dilute that slurry with water until you are honing on clear water and that is when you will be finished. Exactly how many strokes you need to do before beginning the dilution and how many strokes between each subsequent dilution will be up to trial and error. Odds are good that there will be lots of error, but that's what will make it so satisfying when (I said when, not if--we're trying to be optimistic here) you get it right.

Optical magnification of the edge in the form of a microscope or jeweler's loupe would be helpful for observing your progress. The greatest help would be finding someone else in the area who can help you in person.