Thread: Carborundum Comparisons

I will be posting this on all of the forums for maximum coverage.

Does anyone have a Carborundum #106 and #124 and if so how do they compare?

Could either be used effectively for a razor bevel setter....No flaming please, I am not looking for a bevel setter, I have plenty, just a question.
Next, which carborundum would be considered a better bevel setter for razors?

Thanks for your help.

Dave

I don't have a 106, but I have the 124,,, the 124 would be O.K. for setting a bevel, if you get it in at least a 6 inch.
My best Carborundum bevel setter is a 118 ,,, 8 inch,,, it's great for thick, tough old English steel.

The 106 is 4x2 inches while the 124 is 6x2 inches. The 106 is a razor hone but the 124 is not. Both are about equally porous and you'll have to add water frequently. The 124 seems to be more aggressive by feel during the honing stroke and removes steel faster.

For this reason and because it is longer, in my opinion the 124 would be better suited for bevel setting. You would need to finish with a different hone though, while the 106 could produce a shave able edge. However, it would be the poorest edge as compared to any of the other lower 100 series hones.

Originally Posted by dta116

I will be posting this on all of the forums for maximum coverage.

Does anyone have a Carborundum #106 and #124 and if so how do they compare?

Could either be used effectively for a razor bevel setter....No flaming please, I am not looking for a bevel setter, I have plenty, just a question.
Next, which carborundum would be considered a better bevel setter for razors?

Thanks for your help.

Dave

The bench stones are common, and rarely used. Look up their listing, or look around at flea markets, you can always find old norton india stones and carborundum stones because machinists use the india stones and ditch them when they load, and nobody really ever liked the carborundum stones that much because silicon carbide leaves a ragged edge.

My opinion after having (I believe a 108, or one of them that's listed as a suitable razor hone), that they are better used the old school way, to thin a widening bevel but not to be allowed to work all the way to the edge. Thus, I don't think the razor intended stones are great bevel setters.

India stones should be used with caution, too, because the particles in them are fairly large and they can leave a bit of a scratch trail just above the bevel when a particle or two is rolling around loose. It's tiny, but you can see it.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I don't have a 106, but I have the 124,,, the 124 would be O.K. for setting a bevel, if you get it in at least a 6 inch.
My best Carborundum bevel setter is a 118 ,,, 8 inch,,, it's great for thick, tough old English steel.

Thanks Hirlau, I do have a 118 coming. Just curious about the 124.
and thanks to all for your input.

Most of the 118's out there are 4 inch,,,, a little more of a PITA to work with, compared to a 6 or 8 inch. If you find a nice 8 inch out there, jump it, if the price isn't too high.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Most of the 118's out there are 4 inch,,,, a little more of a PITA to work with, compared to a 6 or 8 inch. If you find a nice 8 inch out there, jump it, if the price isn't too high.

Do you mean a #118S or #118.......I wasn't aware of an 8"118S

Cutler from Laville Barber Supply using a 118 & lather to set bevel on a freshly restored razor. Circa 1994 IIRC.

Originally Posted by dta116

Do you mean a #118S or #118.......I wasn't aware of an 8"118S

I've found no documentation to explain the "S" after the model # number. I can only assume it stands for "small' ,,, as I find no 8 inch with an "S" after the number, but the 4 inch much older # 118 models do not stamp an "S" either, but the word "small" is written out next to it. The 4 inch # 118 boxes father done the line(newer) started putting an "S'" next to the number in the 4 inch.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I've found no documentation to explain the "S" after the model # number. I can only assume it stands for "small' ,,, as I find no 8 inch with an "S" after the number, but the 4 inch much older # 118 models do not stamp an "S" either, but the word "small" is written out next to it. The 4 inch # 118 boxes father done the line(newer) started putting an "S'" next to the number in the 4 inch.

Now that's interesting, I wonder if we will ever truly have a complete listing and descriptions of these stones with so many iterations?
That makes me wonder if there were different company managers trying to "fix" the numbering scheme and never really understood it in the first place.

BTW that's quite a collection. Are you a fan of the 118?