Thread: barbar hones

Why finish on a barber hone when you have a 12K hone? Barber hones are estimated at 8-10K.

Just ask Simon...Sigway

I used my 3 line swaty for touch up quite a bit. Works very well. I use an Apart barber hone at the moment, but would have no issue going back to a swaty.

Originally Posted by MattCB

I used my 3 line swaty for touch up quite a bit. Works very well. I use an Apart barber hone at the moment, but would have no issue going back to a swaty.

Sigway likes Apart. Just ask him. I want one...

It actually makes sense seeing that I already use cheap dish washing detergent in the water when I hone. I also put it in the water when I wet sand anything. breaks the surface tension of the water and effectively makes the water "wetter".

Originally Posted by Kees

Why finish on a barber hone when you have a 12K hone? Barber hones are estimated at 8-10K.

That is not accurate. There has been quite a bit of research done are barber hones and the grit variance is quite a bit wider than that. They seem to go from around 4K to 15K. It really depends on which barber hone. You should check modine's research at razor and stone. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks RezDog for pointing Modine's work out to me. After reading his reviews my feeling is that barber hones are hit and miss things. Take for instance the 00Frictionite or the Swaty. He tested 2 of both. There appears to be a large inter-brand variation.
He tested the Apart hone and estimates it at 15K. I have one that produces much lower grit size results.

My point is: you have to know the individual barber hone in your possession before deciding to use it in any hone progression.

condition is a big deal with barber hones. He also did a write up on reconditioning and lapping barber hones. I have several barber hones that were my original finishers. Thy were for the most part quite inexpensive. Some of them needed a little love when I got them. They are so much cheaper than a finishing stone I have no idea why more people don't start with them, and they are super easy to use. If you do a little bit of research it is super easy to find the right hone.

Originally Posted by Kees

Why finish on a barber hone when you have a 12K hone? Barber hones are estimated at 8-10K.

Not agreed...there are some around giving a finer edge....also there are other parameters then a grit size....

Concerning Barber Hones we also have to accept that there were never 100% accurate processes and sometimes raw materials were changed within the composition, cheaper ones were used...and as already mentioned the condition of the hone itself...

I own several BH and i really like the Frictionite, Fernsler and Panama Hone and a french V.M.A. Hone....they feel different then a 12k synthethic hone....so for me these are a good addition to other natural or synthethic finishers...