Though I'm still new, you know how things go. I really want to pick up a coti and start learning. Looking on TSS's page, some of the bigger rectangular Cotis go for a pretty penny. The bouts are definitely cheaper, but the cheapest are the BBWs, or the Belgian Blue wetstones. Are these a rock I could raise a slurry on and use to maintain an edge? Not looking for a whole setup to set a bevel and hone, just hone for edge maintenance. I've been reading as much as I can on coticule.be, though I still find myself a bit confused. I do see that honing can be done with one Coti by raising a slurry and slowly making it thinner. I'm just not sure where in the honing process a BBW falls into play. There seems to be a lot of different opinions on this stuff, so finding a sort of guide or written explanation of everything has proven to be difficult.
Coticule BBW
- Thread starter blackhhawk
- Start date
Some people use the BBW with great success for honing, touching up, etc.
Me - personally - I'd rather have a Coti and use the BBW intermittently.
Me - personally - I'd rather have a Coti and use the BBW intermittently.
I have only used BBW sparingly, but I have found that it can be used to take a razor from just after bevel set to final finish. It has inherently less garnets than its yellow counterpart so it may take some extra coaxing to get a good edge out of it, but it can be done...I would rather use the coticule myself though, as I find them to be faster and finer than BBW in most cases....
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- #4
So I can do a 1 stone hone with a BBW, it will just take longer?
Did you see this at coticule.be? Belgian Blue WhetstoneA study of its aptness for sharpening straight razors
Conclusion:
While BBWs likely lack the abrasive speed to reach as far into dullness as a Coticule can, once a razor has a decent bevel, a BBW can be considered a valuable alternative for refining and finishing the edge of a straight razor.
Conclusion:
While BBWs likely lack the abrasive speed to reach as far into dullness as a Coticule can, once a razor has a decent bevel, a BBW can be considered a valuable alternative for refining and finishing the edge of a straight razor.
Using the BBW as a "one stone" solution may be possible, but I doubt you will be saticfied with the keeness of the edges IMHO.
I would suggest you need to start with a 1k bevel setting stone - I use either a DMT 1200 or a Chosera 1k.
From there, a 50x200 BBW and a slurry stone will get you shaving.
http://www.ardennes-coticule.be/shop/en/37-belgian-blue-whetstones
- Thread starter
- #8
I wouldn't need to bevel set every time I hone though, right?
- Thread starter
- #9
Very interesting... thanks. I didn't see that.
You can maintain an edge for some time with just a few dozen laps on a light slurry once a week or so.
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- #11
Who am I kidding... even if I buy a BBW, we all know I'm going to end up buying a Coti too.
Look for a natural combo and get both in one stone.
- Thread starter
- #13
I will keep a look out for one... good idea.
I got my stones from the source: http://www.ardennes-coticule.be/en/
I started with a rectangular standard coticule in the smallest size, it's glued to a BBW, so you get both. I like sharpening with the coticule, so I just ordered a bigger stone. 100x40 will do perfectly though.
Don't forget to get a slurry stone!
I started with a rectangular standard coticule in the smallest size, it's glued to a BBW, so you get both. I like sharpening with the coticule, so I just ordered a bigger stone. 100x40 will do perfectly though.
Don't forget to get a slurry stone!
I don't know if a BBW is the best choice for a beginner and the natural combination stones can be expensive. Your best bet is probably a small coticule and then just start honing and experimenting.
You can get frustrated reading about how to hone on coticules. I was confused with all the talk of unicot and dilucot methods, and the different schools of thought on coticule honing. In the end I learned by trial and error. Build your slurry and experiment with your number of laps and rate of dilution.
TSS is, in my view, the best vendor for a coticule, as you can pick your actual stone. I do suggest starting by getting a 1k stone for bevel setting, then take over on the coticule from there.
You can get frustrated reading about how to hone on coticules. I was confused with all the talk of unicot and dilucot methods, and the different schools of thought on coticule honing. In the end I learned by trial and error. Build your slurry and experiment with your number of laps and rate of dilution.
TSS is, in my view, the best vendor for a coticule, as you can pick your actual stone. I do suggest starting by getting a 1k stone for bevel setting, then take over on the coticule from there.
There's a variety of natural hones around the price point of the Belgian Blue stones that could keep a razor shaving indefinitely, providing a calamity free environment. The Belgian Blues, Chinese Natural, Welsh slates, Muller grindstones etc. Combined with an abrasive strop & slurry stone I could live with any one of them.
If you're going Belgian, I'd vote coticule, or even better a combo stone & a combo slurry stone. The "special" slurry stone I got from Jarrod turned out to be just big enough for finishing on, most of the time I use the the yellow side of my main stone but the other options are nice to have.
Technique wise I'd say rub the razor on the stone with just water and if that doesn't work play around with some slurry. If you're just wanting to maintain a shave ready edge a few laps or minutes every so often on any reasonably fine stone should keep things ticking over. I found it useful to do a few laps on water before every shave when I got my first stone, not really needed long term but a few laps a day keeps the 1k away and gets the muscle memory going.
If you're going Belgian, I'd vote coticule, or even better a combo stone & a combo slurry stone. The "special" slurry stone I got from Jarrod turned out to be just big enough for finishing on, most of the time I use the the yellow side of my main stone but the other options are nice to have.
Technique wise I'd say rub the razor on the stone with just water and if that doesn't work play around with some slurry. If you're just wanting to maintain a shave ready edge a few laps or minutes every so often on any reasonably fine stone should keep things ticking over. I found it useful to do a few laps on water before every shave when I got my first stone, not really needed long term but a few laps a day keeps the 1k away and gets the muscle memory going.
I don't think a Belgian Blue will cure this........blackhhawk said:
I could be wrong, but I thought the cotis were glued on to slate, not BBW....
- Thread starter
- #19
I have a small coti on the way to start off with thanks to a generous member who gave me a good deal. Where can I find some 1k stones for bevel setting?
Excellent, hope you get it soon to try.
You are correct, I was misinformed. It's listed on the ardennes-coticule website...
