Yup when setting the bevel I always found it easier to get the proper pressure on the bench I think. I used to do this with Shapton 1.5K and Coticules while setting the bevel. Kind of going from bench to hand and go to hand honing from then on.I got this near-wedge, 4/8 Heljestrand about 12 or 18 months ago from memory. I tried honing it a couple of times initially, getting a lovely edge for most of it, but not quite setting the bevel properly all the way along. And I was getting some spine wear too, so I decided to set it aside until the day I had more experience and knew more about honing weird-*** razors, without the risk of completely feckin it up. And that day was yesterday...
My plan of attack was going to be taping, and then bench honing to properly force the bevel set. In another thread @Steve56 also mentioned that taping was probably the way the way to go, so I knew my thinking was on the right track. And indeed - it worked an absolute charm. I also did something I'd not tried before, but on the basis of this razor might continue with...
The tape meant I could properly lean into the bevel set, and make sure it was good. I was conscious that setting a bevel is easier when bench honing, but when finishing or touching up later I like to hand hone. And the motions; length of stroke, roll, how and where pressure is applied &c. are going to be different between the two.
If I initially honed a 4/8 wedge exclusively on the bench, would I then be able to do future touchups in-hand, and get them perfect?
I wasn't convinced. So I did a combination of the two on each stone, to try to blend the methods and results, starting with bench honing and then moving to hand each time. And I also varied the ratios gradually through the progression; on the early stones it was mostly bench honing followed by just a little in-hand, by the time of the finishing stone it was just a few bench swipes and then mostly in-hand.
Other people do that kind of thing? I'm sure I can't be the first person to think of it, and as I say - it worked a treat. King 800 > Naniwa 4k > Tam > WoA, and a perfectly silent HHT 5 from heel to toe. Can't wait to use this razor now!
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Same. Bevel and maybe mid range on the bench, finishing stone(s) hand held.
Bbws never get any love but I think they are just as excellent stones as a yellow coticule. Most are coarser but they can be a very good finishers of you find a fine one. They're usually fast and the coarse ones leave teeth on knives.
Since they’re slower than the coti layer, my instinct is they help when deburring cutlery (and when it doesn’t matter you’re knocking the keenness back a bit). I’m really liking the coti for griding then BBW for deburring and finishing in the kitchen. The OG dual hone.
! Never had an issue getting a good shave of this little coticule but this produced the best HHT yet. The real test, the shave was excellent, keen and kind. This experiment just became routine. Thanks again Rick.
