Thread: How did barbers hone a wedge in the olden days?

The closest thing we have to people actually trying the two stone method is the Norton Lapping stone and the Norton hones I am sure you can find multiple references here on SRP that says exactly this...

"The problem with using the Lapping stone is it doesn't stay flat so you need to get a lapping stone for the lapping stone, so just buy a DMT"

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Actually I did & he said 'dissimilar stones are the problem not how many you use.
Also when it comes to razors a diamond plate makes 3 stones redundant & a waste of time.

Actually you didn't.

From the link...
" You just need 3 individual stones that have a 1000 grit surface (3 is the critical number. Not 2, not 4, not 6)."

Hello all, first time poster, long time minutia debater. Saw that one of ya'll posted a link to my blog, and couldn't resist.

Here is the low down from my years with my stones. I had 2 stones, and rubbing them together did not work at keeping them flat. They may have been sidewalk flat, but not a real true, near perfect flat.

3 stones instantly resulted in immeasurably flat stones.

3 stones is the only number that worked for me, and 3 of the same grit of stone is critical.

Not opinion, just results.

For the record, I've recently found the DMT DiaFlat plate works as well.

What three stones ????
and why did you use this method ???

The last "Tool Guy" that mentioned this didn't speak great English and I never got to ask him that question

I used three granite plates with SiC grit to create three flat plates to be used with W/D to lap stones.

I did it because I liked the concept. Two surfaces that mate with random motion can only be spherical with flat being a sphere of infinite radius. This is the principle used by telescope makers for their mirrors.

Originally Posted by fairwoodworking

Actually you didn't.

From the link...
" You just need 3 individual stones that have a 1000 grit surface (3 is the critical number. Not 2, not 4, not 6)."

Hello all, first time poster, long time minutia debater. Saw that one of ya'll posted a link to my blog, and couldn't resist.

Here is the low down from my years with my stones. I had 2 stones, and rubbing them together did not work at keeping them flat. They may have been sidewalk flat, but not a real true, near perfect flat.

3 stones instantly resulted in immeasurably flat stones.

3 stones is the only number that worked for me, and 3 of the same grit of stone is critical.

Not opinion, just results.

For the record, I've recently found the DMT DiaFlat plate works as well.

Welcome aboard,,,,
Is this your blog?

https://fairwoodworking.wordpress.co...and-tool-blog/

I briefly looked through it & I could not see who the author was & his credintials. Did I miss it,,, maybe,, I'm not good with blogs, but I always like to know who's in the discussion.

Lots of nice photographs on that blog,, sorry I don't know anything about woodworking, so I can't comment on the articles. Obviously, you like your work, though.

I'm just a hand tool guy, so I don't know how much this translates to shaving, but in my world using norton stones... The most cost effective way to get a 4000 or 8000 stone is as combo stones with 1000 grit on the back of each. Add one more 1000 grit stone for 30-40 bucks and you have all you need for the 3 stone system. All told you are in the $200 range, and perfect for beginners or low budgeters.
A DiaFlat on its own in worth about $200, and well worth it if it fits the budget.
Works for hand tools.
Mileage may vary.

Originally Posted by fairwoodworking

I'm just a hand tool guy, so I don't know how much this translates to shaving, but in my world using norton stones... The most cost effective way to get a 4000 or 8000 stone is as combo stones with 1000 grit on the back of each. Add one more 1000 grit stone for 30-40 bucks and you have all you need for the 3 stone system. All told you are in the $200 range, and perfect for beginners or low budgeters.
A DiaFlat on its own in worth about $200, and well worth it if it fits the budget.
Works for hand tools.
Mileage may vary.

Norton makes a 220, 1k, 4k, and 8k. They have combos of 220/1k, 4/8. Great hones.

So you are using the 3 1k surfaces, why would you need this ???

Then just using the 4k and 8k for final finishes if needed ???

The 3 stone flattening method doesn't really relate / lend itself to SR Honing



I think everybody realizes that the 3 stone method works (even if we don't use it for SR honing ), the question seems to be "Why the 2 stone method doesn't"

Thanks Hirlau
Yep, that's me. I run it as an anonymous blog for no good reason. No credentials to speak of, and totally self taught.

One of the reasons I started to write was the frustration of other "woodworkers" that claimed knowledge of things they had obviously never done. There is nothing worse than an ignorant know it all. I may be a know it all as well, and I'm wrong from time to time, but I try not to talk about things using the words of another persons experience.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I think everybody realizes that the 3 stone method works (even if we don't use it for SR honing ), the question seems to be "Why the 2 stone method doesn't"

I think the problem is that there is no way to get all portions of each stone to move an equal distance against one another.