Thread: How to use my Barber's Hone?

I got my Barber's Hone today and I don't really know how to use the thing. Do I have to soak it? Just wet it? How am I supposed to move the razor along it?

I'm new to honing so I have no clue what to do. All I know is that I have to hone with the blade leading and the spine following, but do I use circular strokes or some other type of stroke?

Lynn showed me a box containing a Barber's hone that had the instructions printed on the lid.

It said to use some lather as a lubricant and NO MORE than 4-5 light X strokes.

Lynn said they meant it!

I use my 12k Naniwa for touch ups, so I cannot confirm the usage of a Barber's hone. But I think you are going to get a whole lot of instruction similar to what I just gave you.

Alembic nailed it 100%. 4-5 light strokes on a lathered stone and off you go to the strop afterwards.

So I have to lather it? Does my lather have to be really good for it to work? My box doesn't have instructions btw. What about oil? Water? DRY!?

I have a few barber hones so I can help you. Beyond this thread, if you need any further help, you are welcome to PM me.

I don't know of a single barber hone that needs to be soaked. They are all about speed and convenience. Think of it sitting in the pocket of a barber who notices his razor is not quite up to snuff. He's just going to pull it out of his pocket, do a few strokes, strop, and shave.

Try putting water on your hone and see what happens. Unlike a water hone, barber hones for the most part do not absorb water. Instead, water just beads up on the hone. When you try to hone with just water, most of the water gets pushed off of the hone. You only need a very small amount of lather, or soap, or detergent to break the surface tension of the water. You just want a layer of moisture on the hone, that's all. You really can't get the lather wrong. Any amount of diluted lather will work.

Regarding how to move the razor along the hone, please read the beginners section of the Wiki regarding honing. The same X-stroke used for normal honing is used on a barbers hone. The difference is that with a barbers hone all you need are about 4 to 6 strokes. This is because the density of grit in a barbers hone is much higher, so it cuts faster, but with a fine grit.

Some barber hones can be used dry. A few specify that they are dry hones, but others that are meant to be used wet can also be used dry, if you wish. In general though, I'd use diluted lather. If you have any more questions, just ask.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have a few barber hones so I can help you. Beyond this thread, if you need any further help, you are welcome to PM me.

I don't know of a single barber hone that needs to be soaked. They are all about speed and convenience. Think of it sitting in the pocket of a barber who notices his razor is not quite up to snuff. He's just going to pull it out of his pocket, do a few strokes, strop, and shave.

Try putting water on your hone and see what happens. Unlike a water hone, barber hones for the most part do not absorb water. Instead, water just beads up on the hone. When you try to hone with just water, most of the water gets pushed off of the hone. You only need a very small amount of lather, or soap, or detergent to break the surface tension of the water. You just want a layer of moisture on the hone, that's all. You really can't get the lather wrong. Any amount of diluted lather will work.

Regarding how to move the razor along the hone, please read the beginners section of the Wiki regarding honing. The same X-stroke used for normal honing is used on a barbers hone. The difference is that with a barbers hone all you need are about 4 to 6 strokes. This is because the density of grit in a barbers hone is much higher, so it cuts faster, but with a fine grit.

Some barber hones can be used dry. A few specify that they are dry hones, but others that are meant to be used wet can also be used dry, if you wish. In general though, I'd use diluted lather. If you have any more questions, just ask.

Thanks, that was helpful for me as well. I have a nice old Swaty, but have never used it. I go my full set of Naniwas before I got the chance.

But I think it is worth the experimentation to try it so I can speak from an informed voice.

Originally Posted by Alembic

Thanks, that was helpful for me as well. I have a nice old Swaty, but have never used it. I go my full set of Naniwas before I got the chance.

But I think it is worth the experimentation to try it so I can speak from an informed voice.

I have a suggestion for you. Pick a razor and hone it on a Swaty using just 4 to 6 strokes. Shave with it in whatever rotation you use but use only the Swaty to maintain that particular razor. This will give you an insight into what men used last century to maintain their razors and will give you a better sense of the quality of the shave that the average man experienced.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have a suggestion for you. Pick a razor and hone it on a Swaty using just 4 to 6 strokes. Shave with it in whatever rotation you use but use only the Swaty to maintain that particular razor. This will give you an insight into what men used last century to maintain their razors and will give you a better sense of the quality of the shave that the average man experienced.

That's a cool idea and a nice experiment.

Thanks for the responses! I'm going to test out my hone this weekend and see how it goes.

EDIT:Oh wait one last question, do I have to tape the spine?

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have a suggestion for you. Pick a razor and hone it on a Swaty using just 4 to 6 strokes. Shave with it in whatever rotation you use but use only the Swaty to maintain that particular razor. This will give you an insight into what men used last century to maintain their razors and will give you a better sense of the quality of the shave that the average man experienced.

Do you mean a razor that was previously shave ready? Bevel set and all?