Thread: Honwell stone

Thanks.
I'm not so sure it really needs flattening. Hones for chisels and hand planes MUST be kept absolutely flat whereas I see a difference in plane geometry with razors. Different animal. Different form.
Truly interesting.
I'll try a mild detergent and warm water to clean it up a bit.

Thanks again.


Oops! just got previous reply before posting this. I'll flatten 'er too. Piece of cake.
Great vid. Very informative.

Razors also need flat stones. If one of your stones is not flat, then every stone you'll use has to have the same wear on the same spot.
No matter what you hone, you have a bevel, and grit progression. If it cuts wood, hair or meat just changes the angle of the bevel or grit of the last stone.Everything else remains the same.

Got it. See above.

I like flat. Flat I know. Perfect reference point.

Thanks Vas

You've not been watching the razor honing vids long eh?

Any single-stone operation can be carried out with whatever shape the stone is. BUT when using multiple hones in a progression, each stone should match the other. Whatever shape you like. Flat is easy.

(simul-post, yes you got it now )

Its beginning to look like I'm over-thinking things.

The barber hone was from a company that hold barber and shaving supplies made for them. They sold very good products. SRD razors and hones are excellent, I expect that your barber hone will be as well. If you are interested in barber hones Modine has been doing a lot of work on establishing grit equivalence on them at http://www.razorandstone.com - The Front Page The general rule with barber hones is start with 4-6 strokes and check it. They can be very aggressive and will over hone easily.

Originally Posted by Dapper

Its beginning to look like I'm over-thinking things.

Don't we all?

Just note that sharpening knives and tools is quite different from sharpening razors. I guess your really freaking sharp chisels still pale in comparison to a razor's edge. No wonder, as the razor's job is a lot easier on the edge!

I know little about barber's hones, but they are called barber's hones for a reason. I expect you'll get nice edges from it. Good luck and don't hesitate to ask for more help!

It is threads like these that really get confusing


1. The Ebay pic is rather deceiving The box is from an SRD Quick and Easy Barber's hone it is not the same as a Honwell
2. The pictured hone has a rather questionable surface that might actually benefit from a proper lapping
3. Lapping a BH is NOT advised unless the hone really needs it, the Factory finish is part of what makes them work
4. If you must lap the BH, you must try and bring the same level of polish back to the surface it isn't a Waterstone per se and they require a bit of work

5. I have sold a couple of the Honwell BHs in the past and find them to be rather dead center read "Standard" in the scheme of Barber Hones


As to approximate grit, I try and stay away from that, it either feels good on the face or it doesn't, it is used for a quick re-touch and for maintenance on a razor so it by the very nature of it's use would always be a final hone..

Thank you Good Sir!

This cleared up just about everything I needed to hear, and it is clearly something I suspected about the flattening. It seems so different from a waterstone in composition (read "feel") to me that I had to inquire. I wish I knew the composition! I'm glad you refrain from grit typing as it would, for me, put more confusion into the mix.

I apologize for the pic, I only wanted to exemplify the product for recognition's sake.

Thanks to all for their help in this!
"Dapper" Dan