Thread: Just Got My First Franz Swaty!

I have heard great things about these, so I feel great about getting this for $22!

There is lots of info about their use here in the forum. A quick search should answer just about any question, but if not, then go ahead and ask here.

I maintained a seven day set of razors with nothing but two comparable barber hones (a Swaty and a Carborundum 102) for over ten years. In other words, your Swaty was a great investment!

Looks like a pretty good deal, though I'm certainly no expert on these hones and can't really make an assessment as to the condition of the one in the picture. The one thing I would point out is that you may need to lap it (or have it lapped) when you get it, which they say is sometimes quite a chore as these are often pretty hard stones. Be sure to read the information on barber hones in the library; Modine (a member here) also has a series of reviews on different barber hones over at Razor and Stone that will give you some insight, particularly related to the number of passes needed to refresh a razor. Enjoy!

Or, don't lap it unless it is severely damaged.

For refreshing the edge, which should be done as soon as you notice a diminishment in the quality of the shave, simply do 4 to 6 strokes on the Swaty, strop, and shave. If it is still not quite there, then repeat before the next day's shave. It's that simple.

Originally Posted by Utopian

For refreshing the edge, which should be done as soon as you notice a diminishment in the quality of the shave, simply do 4 to 6 strokes on the Swaty, strop, and shave. If it is still not quite there, then repeat before the next day's shave. It's that simple.

Hi, I use my swaty and love it. Just as stimulation for discussion, Lynn recommends using the hone in a "prophylactic" manner. In other words use it every third shave before the edge drops. I've not been doing that for 10 years though

I try to make a point of not disagreeing with Lynn, as I have way too much respect of his experience, but I am not aware of him making such a recommendation. Could you please cite your source for this recommendation of his?

In peril of disagreeing with Lynn, I will say that just honing according to a schedule rather than honing in response to shaving feedback does not make sense. That's why I have always declared that you should refresh a razor as soon as you notice any diminishment in the quality of the shave. That might happen after three shaves, but it might be after ten or more.

Yep! I will do so when I get in from work. Sorry only got my phone to access here, which doesn't really do the job for research. Hoping now that I am remembering correctly

Ok, egg on face time here folks. I've been misinterpreting something I read a while back:
http://http://straightrazorpalace.co...ers-did-2.html

He does in fact say, as soon as the edge goes, rather than just before, as I had imagined