Thread: Can I use a cheap barber hone instead of 4000/80000?

I would be cautious about using that hone with a straight. Any stone that has instructions saying smooth and fine... sharpening... knife... also may be used for sharpening other kind of cutlery, may very well be far too coarse. Barber hones are relatively cheap and easy to find on ebay. They can be used to maintain a razor that has already been professionally honed. But if you want to repair damage, or hone a razor from bevel setting all the way to polishing you will need an assortment of hones.