Barbers Hone Question and Cutting a Stone Question. 2-4-1 (twofers')

The American Hone Company located in Olean NY was sold in the 1950's to a new owner in Moravia, Iowa. The new owners made over 100 different barber hones that I know of but the Cotl was not one of them.

If it is a single grit hone then it is meant to be used as a edge refresher/ touch up hone for a straight razor. They generally are not a finishing grade stone as we think of them now (they used 4F graded abrasives) but some of the ones made in Moravia do qualify as finishers ( they used 1200F graded, and finer, abrasives). Please do not confuse 1200F with 1200 grit. They are very different measures.

I bunch of us have tried different barber hones and it is always interesting to see where it fits in the honing process.

Regarding narrow hones..... I agree completely with Gssixgun....but I like narrow hones! :) They are not better, they just suit me more, it is nothing more than a personal preference . But, I still use the wide 3" hones the most.

Regarding cutting the Shapton glass.... a few years ago ChrisL did that on the 1K and I got 1/2 of it. The abrasive side was ok but the glass side was all fractured and weak. I do not recommend doing this.

Hope this helps :)


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Originally Posted by randydance062449

Regarding narrow hones..... I agree completely with Gssixgun....but I like narrow hones! :) They are not better, they just suit me more, it is nothing more than a personal preference . But, I still use the wide 3" hones the most.

Regarding cutting the Shapton glass.... a few years ago ChrisL did that on the 1K and I got 1/2 of it. The abrasive side was ok but the glass side was all fractured and weak. I do not recommend doing this.

Hope this helps :)


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Thanks Randolf, would you know what he used to cut the stone with?

If anyone else has tried to cut these stones or may have a better idea, please chime in. I know Glen thinks it is dumb, but I really want to try it, I just don't want to break it.

Dave

From what I understand and heard a few have tried cutting the glass shapton with a waterjet and a diamond wheel with water cooling but have not been successful since the glass is tempered and just shatters.

It far easier to cut regular un-tempered glass with a diamond wheel. Tempered glass will shatter when trying to cut. There is a way but it involves annealing the tempered glass first.

I know that chefs knife to go sells smaller sized glass shaptons 1" x 5" but those are special cut at the factory and come on a different non glass base.

Of course nobody says you can't try to cut it but the glass base won't survive in a nice straight cut.

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Originally Posted by Maximilian

" the glass is tempered and just shatters."

It far easier to cut regular un-tempered glass with a diamond wheel. Tempered glass will shatter when trying to cut. There is a way but it involves annealing the tempered glass first.

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Well that explains why it won't work. Thanks for the update.

I guess I need to find a stone I CAN cut.

Before you do that, try lapping the side of one of your single grit hones and see if it is better than the wide side for your purpose. I do it on my low grit hones. It increases the pressure per area on the stone, and that can make a difference in bevel setting. Sometimes it is a help but stay wide to hone safely and keep the bevel angle consistent along the blade..
If making a hone to go in a shave set, that is a different story; then a finisher like a coticule or BBW, or Thuringian might be a thing to do. I have found examples of all cut to ~¼" thick and 1" wide x 4 to 7 inches long.
Have fun!
~Richard