Thread: Barber hone as a finisher?

yes some of these could also be used in a kind / term like a "finisher" but in general i would use them more as an touch up stone as they were ment to be....there are several fast cutting and very fine Barber Hones out (up to 15k) which i think could be used after a 8K Hone.....

I use them more as a touch up if i feel that a razor is getting uncomfortable when shaving....

I just acquired a few natural finishers and decided that I would make a six day set all with different finishers. Each was after bevel set 1k King, Norton 4k/8k.

Two different vintage Coti, a new La Gris looking coti, a thuri, film w/ paper + CrOx strop, and an Apart barber hone.

Long story short, three laps on Barber hone with lather, gave a nice sharp and smooth shave. I don't know if I will do much finishing on it but will be using it for touchup work.

Yeah the Apart is a nice one, wait to get one some time :-)

I don't have a frictionite hone, but I do have two separate bench stones (821 and 825?) that are basically the same thing. They are a comfortable shave, actually, I'd never need the coarse one to maintain a razor. they remind me of a *good* coticule, the edge is comfortable and pretty keen, but not blinding sharp, with a crispy feel and sound in shaving.

I've got another half glazed over looking OVB razor hone that will also do the work of a finisher if needed (it's black and the surface was polished by the manufacturer - probably lapped), but most of the red aluminum oxide barber hones I've ever seen are too coarse to work as a finisher. I suppose someone designed them to quickly restore a little bit of bevel geometry without working to the edge.

Like Glen has said, they are not necessarily a winning proposition as a cheap finisher, especially if you lap one and remove the factory lap on a stone that only cuts fine because of the surface polish on the stone (but otherwise has big particles in it).