F.Swaty received today! Do I need to flatten it prior to using for touch ups?

I would leave it alone and see how it works. JMO. As Jimmy said, they had a particular finish. I have heard some are more coarse on the back side than the front as they were made. It may be that flattening them would have a negative effect.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I don't know what to tell you on the grit level. Some guys used to say the finish side was maybe 12k, but I think that was an optimistic notion. If you go to the help files you'll find Swaty instructions for more than one of their barber hones. I believe that one is finer on the label side, but it may be the other way around.

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Woah, really? I always thought that they were the same on both sides, and that it was around 8K.

Now I feel a draw to go buy a few for experimentation... purely for science, of course. :)

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

I would leave it alone and see how it works. JMO. As Jimmy said, they had a particular finish. I have heard some are more coarse on the back side than the front as they were made. It may be that flattening them would have a negative effect.

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Well I went ahead and flatten it using some wet/dry sandpaper and I think it turned out fine. It is not quite as polished as it was but I think it will polish back up after use with lather.

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Originally Posted by Aldwyn

Woah, really? I always thought that they were the same on both sides, and that it was around 8K.

Now I feel a draw to go buy a few for experimentation... purely for science, of course. :)

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My understanding is that this stone is considered a three line from the time the father was making them is two sided but not sure how the rates would be for each side.

There is no need to lap a barbers hone, just do the recommended number of x strokes and you will be fine. Should you choose to lap it you take the chance of destroying the finish and binder that hold the artificial stone together.

I have a lot of Swatys. I have never been able to discern any difference between their two sides other than the presence or absence of the imprint.

Oh, and I second the notion of not lapping a barber hone. Achieving perfect flatness is not as necessary as an intact honing surface.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

I have a lot of Swatys. I have never been able to discern any difference between their two sides other than the presence or absence of the imprint.

Oh, and I second the notion of not lapping a barber hone. Achieving perfect flatness is not as necessary as an intact honing surface.

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I have an old 3-line Swaty and I agree that both sides seem the same. For certain there is no discernible separating line down the side of the hone that would be typical of a two-sided hone.