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Belgian Blue Whetstone

I'm answering this question that was posted in the thread about bevel setting. But I'm doing it in a new thread, because I don't want to hijack Treydampier's thread any more than I already have.
Bart, is the BBW w/ slurry completely out of your methods? I love the BBW, it is this hone that gives my blades a great boost of sharpness after their bevels are set and ready for some serious action.
No, the BBW has not lost my attention. As a matter of fact, a parcel with one combo Coticule, one BWW and three identical razors is traveling around the world right now. At every stop, the razors are shave tested, dulled and rehoned with a strict procedure on each of the 3 hones (BBW, Coticule and BBW side of the combo), and send to the next guy, who does the same. The razors are marked A,B and C, but the participants are not told which one was honed on which hone. 2 fellows have completed the test so far, and I can tell you they both reported excellent shaves and found it pretty impossible to tell the edges apart. After the experiment completes, we'll write a full report with the research group. If results are consistent, we'll disclose the method used for honing the BBW-edges. The Coticule edge is a Unicot.

Obviously you can still use a BBW (and also a Coticule for that matter) as part as a progression of hones.

Best regards,
Bart.
 
Thank you Bart, I am looking forward to seeing your observations. BBW is a great hone - consistent, great looking, robust.
 
I enjoy using the BBW side of my Coti combos, not sure why that stone never gets very much press. Maybe it's just upstaged by its older brother!
 
Bart, this was part of your original post in the other thread.

A finger rests on top of the blade and exerts a mild pressure. (measured with the hone on a "zeroed" kitchen scale: 250-350g or 8.5-12oz).

I assume this means the scale is "zeroed" with the stone on it and the finger pressure + blade = 250-350g?

EDIT: In pretty sure this is what you mean, just wanted to check.
 
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Bart, this was part of your original post in the other thread.



I assume this means the scale is "zeroed" with the stone on it and the finger pressure + blade = 250-350g?

EDIT: In pretty sure this is what you mean, just wanted to check.
That's correct. I pressed the zero button of the scale when the hone was on it. Hence what I measured includes both the weight of the razor and the pressure I applied on it. The lowest reading was slightly above 250g and the highest below 350. Obviously, I don't advocate working with the hone on a kitchen scale all the time. It's just a pointer to the kind of pressure I've been able to use on a Coticule, sharpening many razors without any adverse effect. Finishing is always done with the least possible pressure that still allows a steady honing stroke.
On my website, I've a full explanation of the Dilucot procedure, including the bevel correction stage.

Best regards,
Bart.
 
I have been waiting like a little boy on Christmas for his presents to see the results from this experiment, Bart! I can't wait to see what happens with the Belgian blue Whestones if this proves to be a hone you can sharpen a whole blade on from bevel to finish. I have an 8x3 BBW stone that someone sold me as it was seen as not an effective hone, I love it, it's a beautiful rock. Nothing would please me more than to see I can hone a whole razor on this stone. :thumbup1:
 
I'm answering this question that was posted in the thread about bevel setting. But I'm doing it in a new thread, because I don't want to hijack Treydampier's thread any more than I already have.

No, the BBW has not lost my attention. As a matter of fact, a parcel with one combo Coticule, one BWW and three identical razors is traveling around the world right now. At every stop, the razors are shave tested, dulled and rehoned with a strict procedure on each of the 3 hones (BBW, Coticule and BBW side of the combo), and send to the next guy, who does the same. The razors are marked A,B and C, but the participants are not told which one was honed on which hone. 2 fellows have completed the test so far, and I can tell you they both reported excellent shaves and found it pretty impossible to tell the edges apart. After the experiment completes, we'll write a full report with the research group. If results are consistent, we'll disclose the method used for honing the BBW-edges. The Coticule edge is a Unicot.

Obviously you can still use a BBW (and also a Coticule for that matter) as part as a progression of hones.

Best regards,
Bart.

Hello Bart,
Did I miss the results of the BBW study?
 
No, it's still running. The parcel first traveled in UK, right now the US part of the experiment is nearly completed. After that it still needs to visit a few EU locations. I think we will be able to formulate a conclusion around October. Every participant in the experiment has about 3 weeks to complete his shave test and re-sharpen the razors for the next guy in line. And then there's shipment times. That's why it takes so much time. But we will get the job done.:001_smile

I can't share preliminary results, because we don't want to bias the next people in line.

Kind regards,
Bart.
 
Hello Bart. I have a question for you. I recently won a coticule off of ebay. The guy advertised it as a bunch of machinist hones for sale. My question is, how can you tell if the other side is BBW? I have a slurry stone from SRD and when i rub the slate side of the slurry stone with the bottom side of the coti, it produces a sort of grey, redish grey film on the stone. Will the slate of a coti produce this as well or doesn't it produce anything at all? Just trying to figure out if this is a combo or not.
 
Rub the stone with a DMT and if it produces white/light grey slurry, it is slate. If it produces violet slurry, it is BBW.
 
Ok, I'll have to try that when I get my DMT. I wish there was a way I could it with out the DMT though. I guess I will have to wait
 
Ok, I'll have to try that when I get my DMT. I wish there was a way I could it with out the DMT though. I guess I will have to wait
You could use a small piece of sandpaper. But rubbing with the Coticule side of the slurry stone, as you did, works too. If there is a purplish/reddish hue in the slurry, the stone is definitely a BBW. The type of slate they use for backing since recent times, delivers a dull light gray, without any color hue.
Beware, there has been a short period in the 80's that Coticules were sold with a concrete base. That one looks pale brown and can easily be recognized because it is very porous. (sucks up water in the blink of an eye).

Best regards,
Bart.
 
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