Thread: Hone questions

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Norton Tri Hones are Only for Knives. At least in my humble opinion.

As far as the Arks go, I've only played with a hard black so I'm unqualified to answer.

Ok thanks. So as bad as the edges get the razor hones like I have will be the go to hones?


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Originally Posted by RickWY

So it seems we have lots opinions and good reasons for them, but I got to thinking where do the tri hone set up and the Arkansas stones fit in?


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Depends on the tri-hone system. I've seen a few variations. If it's the soft/hard/translucent-surgical black variety? You can get an edge on your straight that you'll love, if you burnish the Translucent/Black appropriately.

Some of the ones with a synthetic in place of the soft Arkansas can be used to set a bevel, but with a little patience you can do that on a soft Arkie too. I have a soft and hard 8x3 bench stone, and a few Translucents I use from time to time. They're good stuff.

Thank you


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Originally Posted by RickWY

Ok thanks. So as bad as the edges get the razor hones like I have will be the go to hones?

If I understand your question correctly, then yes, in the right hands your barber hones can be all that is needed for maintaining your razors. Now, some elaboration on that is necessary...

I have maintained some of my razors with nothing but a couple of barber hones for almost 15 years now and they shave quite well. I COULD slightly improve their edges if I honed them on some of the other hones I have acquired over the years, but the improvement only would be noticeable to an experienced shaver but probably not to a novice. The reason for that is all of this stuff is a COMBINATION of tools and techniques. Neither can fully substitute for the other, but technique can get you a lot farther than a lot more tools.

Back to your question...

If you learn how to use them properly, then you can get very good edges using nothing but those barber hones that you already have.

Originally Posted by Utopian

If I understand your question correctly, then yes, in the right hands your barber hones can be all that is needed for maintaining your razors. Now, some elaboration on that is necessary...

I have maintained some of my razors with nothing but a couple of barber hones for almost 15 years now and they shave quite well. I COULD slightly improve their edges if I honed them on some of the other hones I have acquired over the years, but the improvement only would be noticeable to an experienced shaver but probably not to a novice. The reason for that is all of this stuff is a COMBINATION of tools and techniques. Neither can fully substitute for the other, but technique can get you a lot farther than a lot more tools.

Back to your question...

If you learn how to use them properly, then you can get very good edges using nothing but those barber hones that you already have.

Very well explained. Thank you.


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I maintained my two razors on a coticule and no-name Swaty barber hone for over 35 yrs before I bought a CH12K at Woodcraft. Mine is an incredible finisher but it takes A LOT of strokes. No worries though as I'm in no hurry.

Maintenance now is on a tranny that I drop and broke and was left with a 5 1/2" 'barber' sized hone. It works so well that I seldom have to go to the other stones.