Thread: Grit on a Carborundum?

I have found an old Carborundum hone - how do I determine the grit.

I think it can be quit old - belonged to my grandfather so it can be between 20-50 years and its very well used. The bottom was flat (luckilly) so it is possible to use it

I honed a razor I recently bought and it did not take me long to get rid of a relatively big chip...so it is fast.

Any ideas? - I can try to post a picture later on.

Thanks
/Henrik

I think there are different grits. The hones are numbered - like 101C, 118, etc. Some are clearly marked 'razor hone', others are 'pockets hones' (I am thinking outdoor use for knives, fish hooks, whatnot) and yet others are unmarked...

So grit can be pretty much anything, I guess. If you took a big chip relatively fast it is probably around / under 1K as 3-4K takes a while for such jobs

Cheers
Ivo

Henrik,

Some old Carborundum, I believe this was the original trade name for silicone carbide) are remarkably coarse. My Dad had one that he used to start the process of honing well dulled chisels. It's a soft hone and gets hollowed quickly with aggressive use. If it's not small and smooth, it's probably not a razor hone.

Carborundum was both a "material name" and the name of "The Carborundum Company" of Niagara Falls, NY.

The company made some neat, fine, razor/barber hones from carborundum powder, in different sizes and types. I have a razor hone made by them that measures 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 4". Mine gives a nice finish and is maybe harder than a Swaty.

Carborundum "material" grinding wheels and knife hones can be extremely coarse and tough. I used to clean them by putting them in a fireplace...literally.

Carborundum razor hone: top left:

Neat pic. If I was ever to develop an AD it be BAD.... or I guess BHAD.

Thanks for the answers

It has a sticker on the side which is hard to read but I think it says Carborundum 136???

It is actually quite similar to the Carborundum razor hone in the picture.

/Henrik

and the picture...
(size of hone is 5'*2'*0,5')

The color of yours looks like my smaller one. I read somewhere that the higher numbers on the hone meant a finer grit. Don't quote me.

I believe my smaller Carborundum was harder to lap than a larger 2-line Swaty (6 sq." vs. 10 sq."). The finish from it is a bit coarser than the Swaty. I'd estimate mine at somewhere between 6k to 9k. Yours could be finer or coarser. I'd just test shave with it and see how it worked out.

Nice looking hone.

Thanks,

Tried shaving with two different razors (a newly bought old Eskilstuna and a new Edwin Jagger which obviously needed some more honing) and it was an OK shave. It will probably improve when my Arkansas Black arrives...

Great to have a new hobby!!!