Thread: Old Barbers Hones?????

Hello I'm just getting started in this Straight Razor game and friend gave me some barber stones that belonged to an old relative.

#1 Fensler's Ruby Hone
#2 AM Hone Co. 00 Frictionite
#3 Unkown. Super smooth in custom wooden box
#4 Unkown palm sized barber hones

Any thoughts on what I have here and how I could best use them, if at all? Thanks!

You done good!! 00 is a dream hone. The little square one looks to be a Coticule. All are touch up hones. The 00 is a fast hone and a very few strokes will do ya;( 4-6). The Coticule is a coarser hone and is used when the blade gets a bit dull. The others are used as needed.

~Richard
PS look in the Library for more information and ways to search for more information on the hones.

The ruby red is also a very fine barbers hone, and everything Richard said.

Nice lot!


Mike

Yes sir, that right there is one great score!!

Your relative had pretty good taste in hones.

Barber hones are usually used as touch up/maintenance hones. They're usually pretty quick to get the job done and don't need a ton of passes to get where you wanna be. As soon as you notice your shave is a tad off, or even just every 2-3 weeks, wet the hone and give the blade 4 or 5 edge leading strokes to refresh it. Strop and enjoy your shave. If it's still not right give it 4 or 5 more laps and see what you get out of it. Those look like they're still in usable condition. Clean them up (scrub with soap & water) and they should be good to go.

Does the Ruby still have its instruction sheet? It is a two side hone which isn't obvious. Bottom is coarse top is fine (holding it so lettering on side is right side up). I used mine a couple of weeks ago to hone out a micro chip. No other hones necessary and edge was back to shave ready. The Ruby is a very cool little hone.

Thanks for all the input guys, I'm thrilled to have this collection of Barber Stones. I gave a blade 6 passes with the 00 and shave soap today...felt nice. I'm reading both yes and no on lapping these stones, for now I will give them a good cleaning with soap and a scotch pad.

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Does the Ruby still have its instruction sheet? It is a two side hone which isn't obvious. Bottom is coarse top is fine (holding it so lettering on side is right side up). I used mine a couple of weeks ago to hone out a micro chip. No other hones necessary and edge was back to shave ready. The Ruby is a very cool little hone.

Yes instruction sheet in the box! I 'll have a closer look to check the two sides, thanks!

I have an Aloxite Barber's hone and in my 1950 Barbers Book it says you should slap on a bit of lather on the stone to act as lubricant.