Thread: Bit the bullet

Hi Guys,

After watching videos and reading various threads on the subject, I decided to buy a vintage swaty barbers hone on ebay. From what I understand using this ever 20-30 shaves should keep my razor sharp indefinitely, which is all i'm really interested in doing. Who else here uses barbers hones as there primary hone?

Matt

Hey Matt great score I would suggest getting together with some mentors on refreshing your razor before jumping in with both feet better to take baby steps in this regard and happy shaving

Is it much more difficult than stropping?

My understanding is waaaayyy more of a learned skill and can do more damage faster to the edge if not done correctly.. I haven't jumped into it yet Lynn has some great videos on you tube about it if you haven't yet I suggest check them out

Oh believe me, I have been as well as every other YouTube video I could find on how to refresh a blade

Gotya... And don't forget to ask any and all questions you can think off the people in here a better then any other group I know of at helping all of us just stating into this...now you can also refresh on a pasted strop that's the method I will be attempting first

Used a Swaty 3 line on two razors for years before I started honing with other types of stones and my shaves were comfortable. My grandfather shaved with straights for 50 years and the only thing I ever saw him use to keep them shaving was a barbers hone and a strop. Now I doubt at that time he was chasing the elusive BBS, but he was always closely clean shaven so something worked. There were thousands sold I'd say that means something.

Barber hones (and really any stone that's not super fine) are intended to chase the bevel down to thinness and not quite make it to the edge. That way you have a strop-created edge that is smooth, and a bevel that is not fat (as in the edge with isn't fat).

You use those hones when the razor has lost its mojo and starts to pull a little bit, and you use it per instructions that came with them (which usually say 5 strokes, shave, and if 5 strokes didn't provide satisfaction, do 5 more, rinse and repeat as necessary).

What I've found is that when you develop the skill to leave the edge created by the linen and the strop, you have an extremely smooth edge with indefinite life. If you can't resist the urge to keep honing (which is probably the origination of the old term overhone), then you end up with a toothy edge.

All of that said, a real swaty is fine enough that you'll probably get away with it. Some other razor hones (and some marked coticules) are not.

One thing I wouldn't be without is a vintage linen, but I didn't have one right away. That stretches the time between honings to several multiples of what it would be without, and does not abrade the edge or spine doing it. "silk finish" labeled linens, etc, are what I'm talking about. I don't know of a new linen that is similar to them. Not something you need to buy now, but if you're going to be a minimalist, a good linen, good strop and barber hone are all you need. One of each, not 10 of each.

Yes a good barber hone will work just fine. Glen, GSSixgun has a good video on Barber Hone use.

It is very simple, a dab of shave cream and a few strokes, strop and shave.

Most any good, smooth, chip free Barber Hone will work

Sixgun video

here

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