Thread: How to use my Barber's Hone?

Great info Utopian.

A thanks here as well

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

On taping the spine:

Taping does two things:

1) It slightly raises the spine, and changes the honing angle of the edge;

2) It protects the spine from the hone, so it doesn't develop "hone wear".

If the bevel is good, and it was created with _no tape_, adding a layer of tape will give you a slight "compound bevel". I don't think most people have a problem with that.

If the bevel is good, and it was created _with tape_, you _must_ use tape for honing. Otherwise, your honing won't affect the cutting edge. [A picture is worth 1,000 words, and I can't draw.]

If the bevel isn't good, that's a whole other story.

Charles

Hmmmm compound bevel eh? Sounds interesting! I assume I have to use special tape? Or can I just use a strip of duck tape?

Duct tape tends to leave an adhesive residue. And (because of the reinforcing threads) it's not "constant thickness".

I suggest electrical tape (vinyl tape), which is what everyone else seems to use. It comes off the razor without leaving residue.

Traditional razor sharpening _does not_ leave a compound bevel, and compound bevels are considered taboo in some circles (on this site). Good for knives, bad for razors.

Using tape is a departure from tradition, but it seems to work OK.

Charles

I tried using the hone today and I don't know if I used it right.

I applied lather to the hone then went to do a X-shaped stroke. Unlike stropping, I didn't hear any noise. I felt like all I was doing was taking the lather off of the hone

How can I tell if I'm honing correctly or at all? Stropping has audio cues, but does honing have them too?

The lather should be quite dilute but there is little in the way of audio cues when honing. Visually you watch for the uniform pushing of the lather/water and you feel for keeping the blade flat on the hone.

^Ah okay so I think I did alright then.

How much pressure should I be using?

If you are using it for touch ups, you should use no pressure at all.

Thanks! I'm glad to know that I didn't incorrectly hone.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have a few barber hones so I can help you.

What an understatement!!!!

Well here's an update. I honed two razors, one 6/8 and one 4/8. Both were honed by whippeddog.

Now the 6/8 worked well and only had little dulling before I touched it up. The 4/8 was worse and even after using the Barber's Hone it still is pulling hair.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong! My first thought was that I need to use tape on it, but why would I need to if my 6/8 didn't need tape and they both were honed by the same person? Also the spine shows hone ware so I assumed it was honed without tape.

I'm not using any pressure and I used lather on it. Any idea why it still is pulling? I used X strokes and I did five strokes on each side.