Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:16 am Post subject: BBW and Coticule Honing
Well, since there isn't much going on in this particular corner of the forum, I thought I'd start posting some of my experiences honing with these stones. Or rather, this stone, as I have a combo stone.
The BBW, or belgian blue whetstone, is known as a low grit stone, around a 4000 while the coticule is a finer, polishing stone--around an 8000, they say, but it's actually more complicated than that according to people who RALLY like these rocks.
Apparently, due to the unique formulation of abrasives in these stones, the Coticule can be both a fine finisher when used with water only, and a low-grit equivalent bevel setter when used with slurry.
A young Belgian man on another forum is the champion of this particular honing style, using the coticule with slurry to set a bevel, the BBW to refine that bevel, and the coticule with water to polish it to a shaving edge. Since this is the main stone in my arsenal, I'm trying the same path.
I started with a Double arrow with some edge damage.
I put slurry on the Coticule, and ran about 100 passes. It took me a while to get the feel for how to use this stone, but eventually I got the edge cleaned up and a bevel set.
I then moved to the BBW and did 100 passes with slurry, slowly diluting the slurry with drops of water until it was clear. Then, 50 with water only, then on to the Cot with water only. 100 passes on it, and I had an edge.
It wasn't a very good edge. I had to go back to the BBW to refine the edge more before it was what I'd call a shavable edge, but it was ok. Now, to experiment more with these stones to see if I can master them!
Anyone else use these stones in their honing? _________________ They loved him up and turned him into a horny toad!
Jim,I pretty much use the same technique for sharpening all of my razors but I find that I still have to finish on a higher grit stone to get the quality of edge I like. I normally go to the Thuringen after the coticule for my shaving edge. I agree though, the BBW,Coticule combo is a really nice all around stone. _________________ Bob
Jim,I pretty much use the same technique for sharpening all of my razors but I find that I still have to finish on a higher grit stone to get the quality of edge I like. I normally go to the Thuringen after the coticule for my shaving edge. I agree though, the BBW,Coticule combo is a really nice all around stone.
Yeah Bob, it was my first hone purchase, and I think I did well. I do have a finisher--a 12,000 Shapton pro, and a pasted strop and a couple of barber hones as well. I'm still working out what woks for me, but it's sure fun trying it! _________________ They loved him up and turned him into a horny toad!
OK, so there's a new development on the coticule front. The "one stone hone". Bart, the madman, has deviesed a way to hone a totally dull razor to shaving sharp with JUST one hone, instead of the full spectrum of 1k-4k-8k that most people have been using.
I tried it. It works. Absolutely amazing. Of course, this means that the price of Coticules is going to skyrocket...get them while they're affordable, folks! _________________ They loved him up and turned him into a horny toad!
It appears that this can be done with most any finishing hone, though it may take awhile. Some even report setting bevels on their Nakayama finishers, haha
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