Barber hone as a finisher?

I've been using an old Everkeen barber hone on restores after a Norton 8k. I'm not even going to ask anybody about grit comparisons as I've caught enough threads here to understand no one really knows what barber hones are. It seems like a smoother shave than just coming off the 8k and stropping. Just wanted to know if anyone here does this or am I just fooling myself into an extra step. Although I don't have any complaints with the shave from an 8k and a good stropping. I'm somewhat knew to honing and I'm not looking for crazy sharp just a good easy shave. As most of the mentors here have said it's all in the shave. Just wanted to know if I'm the only one doing this.

A properly honed razor coming off the 8k can give a very nice shave and if you can notice any improvement at all by a few strokes on a barber hone following the 8k, that is perfectly acceptable. The consensus seems to be that a Norton barber hone is one of the very best touch-up tools. I get good results from my Swaty and Frictionite 00 hones. Keep experimenting.......

That's what they were made for. A quick few strokes, then a stropping, and off you go. Doing so, you are following a century/ies old tradition. That can't be all bad :)

I have also finished on barber hones. Most of them cut very quickly, and require very few strokes to refine an edge. The down side is until you get to know your hone over honing may be easy. Although that will vary with the different hones. I have a couple of finishing stones now, and I still use my barber hones occasionally. You can get a very nice edge and most are fairly inexpensive. Modine has been doing some extensive research and has quite the data base at the razor and stone.

thanks for the feedback. That's why I love this site! Somebody on here at some point has done what you are trying to do and is willing to help you out. I've been straight shaving for twenty some years and have always kept my razors comfortably shaving but this site and it's community and mentors has shown me something new every time I browse it. It's a really good community we're in. Different folks from different places but all still doing things the old way just for the enjoyment of tradition.

My experiments w/ a Swaty mirror your own - not really any sharper, but noticeably smoother. FWIW, I pay attention when Mrsell talks about them. I've yet to taste an edge from a Fritionite 00, but if the honorable Randydance has any luck, we may see them again. They seem to enjoy a nice reputation.

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Originally Posted by Highwayman

thanks for the feedback. That's why I love this site! Somebody on here at some point has done what you are trying to do and is willing to help you out. I've been straight shaving for twenty some years and have always kept my razors comfortably shaving but this site and it's community and mentors has shown me something new every time I browse it. It's a really good community we're in. Different folks from different places but all still doing things the old way just for the enjoyment of tradition.

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I am not trying to be argumentative, but see my post about testing 2 of my Barber's hones. I also use mine to finish, and to refresh since my rotation is so big that I don't get back to the same razor for weeks at a time. I had heard that Barber's hones are the reason there are so many Frowning and Smiling Vintage blades out there. So I decided to test the theory.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...it-answer.html

I keep one razor, and have for several years that I use my Swaty on, nothing else,,, I found a 8" Long Swaty a few years back and switched the razor to that one, really like that hone..

There was a time that I sold Barber's Hones quite regularly, I tested every hone before it left the house, IMHO I think the grit numbers that people assign to these are a bit much :)

These hones are in general designed to quickly and easily touch up the edge on a razor, they have a high density of grit so they cut efficiently, ascribing much more to these simple tools I feel is doing them a disservice...

I agree with the statements above. The thing I suggest remembering is that some razors honed with tape will not respond to a barber hone unless they are re-taped.
That can remove the barber hone from consideration for a quick touch up. I have heard of hone clips which quickly reset the spine to the same angle when used for original honing or touch up.
A barber, commonly did not have a razor that was as hone worn as many we use tape upon. When it got so the bevel angle would no longer support a good edge he threw it in the drawer. He also knew each of his razors and always used the same hone and method...it worked for him!
Just some thoughts!
~Richard

I keep a roll of tape next to my barber's hone.

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).