Thread: Package Deal Barber Hone

Hi guys,

Well I picked up a really cheap razor with celluloid scales that are a little fancy for a possible project down the road and what I presume is a barber hone was included so I couldn't turn the deal down.

The hone is 2"x 4" and 1/2" thick. It's a very light khaki green and the box is a dark olive green. The pictures don't show the color of the hone. I'd just cleaned it up with some Dawn and hot tap water with a nylon brush. I found what looks like No. 109 or 103 on one side of the hone.

I've got a lot going on so it'll be a few days before I can really play with it but it feels like a nice smooth surface on All Sides and I haven't lapped it yet.

Anyway I thought that I'd share and see if anyone has any info to share!

Smooth Shaving My Brothers In Blades

Carborundum 103
It's good one!

Hey Roy ~
103 sounds like its a Carborundum brand hone mebe ?

Ha! Utopian by a nose

Originally Posted by Utopian

Carborundum 103
It's good one!

Thanks Ron! :

Any advice on prep for it? (I know that lapping of barber Hones is a very controversial topic) It seems real solid. There are small places on two corners that I'd hate to even call 'chips' more like very small 'dings's.

The edges don't look like they have ever been chambered.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Hey Roy ~
103 sounds like its a Carborundum brand hone mebe ?

Ha! Utopian by a nose

Thanks my friend! I was writing this when your response came in!

I love how members with experience jump in to help another member who is seeking knowledge!

I was deer hunting (unsuccessfully) today so that is why my answer was so brief.

The low 100 carborundums, except for the 106, are very hard and non-porous. They are NOT fun to lap. Unless you really cannot handle a less than pristine barber hone, I would not recommend attempting to lap one of them. They are very hard to lap. They are not the ultimate finest of barber hones, but they will give you a good shave for years.

I don't recall offhand any of them being chamfered, but I'm brain-fried right now and away from my stash so cannot say for certain if any of them are.

Oh, and sorry I have not answered your email yet. I still need to ask my wife how to do it.
(now there's an invitation for odd comments)

Carborundum Razor Hones # 103's,,,

I just bought a Carborundum #124 along with a Keen Kutter hone at auction. The 124 is rated as a "Fine", Would this be a good bevel setter?

Slawman

The 124 is designated by Carborundum as a Sharpening, rather than Honing, Stone. As such, it was not intended to be used for razors. However, I would guess that it would work as a bevel setter. Odds are good that I have tried it for that in the past but I don't remember it. I will try it out on a beater blade and report back.

I also got a package deal on Barber hones I got a 3 line Swaty & a 1 1/4" X 5" X 5/8" thick Coticule. Yes I know pictures are everything. I bought these two hones at a flea market for four bucks. They wanted three a piece & I got them down a couple of bucks when I bought some non sharpening stuff. I have the pictures downloaded from my phone to the puter. Just have to figure out how to post them here. It is a 2 piece Coti. How do you know for sure if you have a slate or Blue stone backing? The yellow stone is very soft & was dished pretty bad. I got it flattened pretty well. There was quite a bit of swarf dried in the bottom of my water tub I have an old strop I made several years ago so I put some of the Coti swarf on the strop & wow, what a smooth edge I got on a Big old W&B Hollow Ground. I am sure I am not the first to try this but I was impressed.
Pic's coming when my Grand daughter show's me how.
Dave"Slawman"Huffman


Almost forgot about the Swaty. It has a few dings & has been used but I checked it for flat & it was good. Haven't used it yet but probably this weekend.

Wow Got my first picture up since I switched to Windows 10. Pretty easy really!
This is kind of a weird view of my baby Coti. I will get some more up in a bit!