Thread: barber hone grit equivalent

barber hones are different until someone doesn't test cannot say what grit aproximately it has.The best thing you can do go head buy norton 4/8k and have less trouble.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

barber hones are different until someone doesn't test cannot say what grit aproximately it has.The best thing you can do go head buy norton 4/8k and have less trouble.

I think I answered my own question. I went back to the WIKI and found:
Hones - comparison table - Straight Razor Place Wiki
on which it lists the barber hone as 12K. I'm sure there is some variance from hone to hone but it's at least 10K most likely.
So, that matches up with my honing experience because I had to do about 300 laps with the barber hone after the 1K hone. I need something as a go between. Or, like you said, get a norton.

Thanks all. I'll post again to tell what happens.

I'm pretty sure you've already figured out not all barber hones are alike. The Nox-All is very similar to a Swaty--hard and fine. I think I remember a Pickering being the same but I'm not certain. Anyway, there is a lot of variation between the barber hones and they certainly have differences in both grit size and degree of hardness, but somehow almost all of them manage to do a serviceable job of putting an edge on a razor. The only exception I have ever seen is the Champion barber hone. All it will do is chew up your edge.

You're definitely going to want to put something between your Arkansas stone and your barber hone. Good luck with it.