Thread: Swaty hones... again

Interesting. I have a Swaty I think I have rarely used. I never even thought about it until you mentioned the difference Randy so I went and checked and it is a "Pike Swaty." I never even knew there were different ones or really anything about them until now.

I really don't know good, bad or indifferent about it.

Lots of threads here. Check them out!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Yes, small barber's hones are made for circles, I feel. Lots of things have been lost, sadly.
IIRC, Randydance has some recipes from American Hone Co who made many brands of them.
Might be some clues there?

Mines about six inches, and I'm not that concerned about the chip,as it's only one side, what's driving me nuts is that it works at all. It's smoother than some kitchen countertops Ive seen and felt. The reason I'd like to know what it's made of is that if it was done once, then I should be able to make my own. I figured that it's some type of clay with some kind of binder. If we knew the recipe we all could make some.... .Just a thought. Where can I find these recipes you speak of??.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Interesting. I have a Swaty I think I have rarely used. I never even thought about it until you mentioned the difference Randy so I went and checked and it is a "Pike Swaty." I never even knew there were different ones or really anything about them until now.

I really don't know good, bad or indifferent about it.

The Pike Swaty is not from Austria or Jugoslavia ( spelling is correct). It and the hone from the American hone company are knockoffs made from an inferior abrasive.
IMHO, the Apart hone is finer than the original Swaty.

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

....... I figured that it's some type of clay with some kind of binder. If we knew the recipe we all could make some... Just a thought. Where can I find these recipes you speak of??.

Most of the hones made by the American Hone Company are basically shellac and some abrasive.
I bought the recipes from Charles Johnson, the owner of the American Hone company, a number of years ago.
When I priced out the cost of the replacement ingredients plus labor, etc., well..... it just was not commercially viable.

Originally Posted by Davidcordes

Have a Swaty...

FRANZ SWATY
WAHRING BEI WIEN
(AUSTRIA)

that measures 7 7/8 x 2 inches.

Had some metal coating on one side (cleaned off with cleanser). In very nice condition. May have been used for wood chisels. Anyone know anything about a larger Swaty? This would not fit in the barber's pocket. Did Swaty make hones for other tools as well as razors?

I did a few laps with a dull straight and with stropping, it seemed to help. I would send a picture but my photography skills are deficient.

Any info welcome

You have an authentic Swaty. There are 3 lines of text and the last line includes the country of manufacture.
Austria or Jugoslavia ( spelling is correct.).

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Most of the hones made by the American Hone Company are basically shellac and some abrasive.
I bought the recipes from Charles Johnson, the owner of the American Hone company, a number of years ago.
When I priced out the cost of the replacement ingredients plus labor, etc., well..... it just was not commercially viable.

Really? About how much was it going to cost to make them? Turns out mine is a three line from Austria, and it works better than I would think after feeling how smooth it is. How much did those recipes cost you, if you don't mind, and it's ok if you do.?

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

Really? About how much was it going to cost to make them? Turns out mine is a three line from Austria, and it works better than I would think after feeling how smooth it is. How much did those recipes cost you, if you don't mind, and it's ok if you do.?

How much? I used to be a cost accountant so.....it would cost a consumer less to purchase a modern manmade hone. The materials costs are much higher now than they were in the 1970's. I paid approx 1970's prices for the materials I purchased from them. But the real expense comes from the labor and equipment and overhead. It simply is not a commercially viable activity.
Here is a link to some suitable Aluminum oxide. Grit rating 1200F (mesh), approx 1 micron average size. This is finally available in packages less that 1 ton.
https://rockridgegrit.com/product/ex...m-oxide-1200f/

...and this is the shellac you want
https://www.shellac.net/mm_lemon_shellac.html

and the ratio is 75% abrasive, 25% shellac, based on weight.

If I recall correctly i posted a method to create your own chrome oxide hone a number of years ago.

Grizzley, we are all enamoured with certain old razor hones.
Indeed the good Swaty hones have held up nice in good environments and are quite effective.

It seems to me that most everyone who has one has a few. It's easy to upgrade to a nicer example.
If this one was on an aution site for starting bid of 9 bucks and had only a few days to go, it would speak volumes on the point.
Little chamfering around and good as gold. No bids.....




I think about 34 examples on one site alone and half seem nice.
It may be wiser to hoard nice examoles of vintage ones than making new ones with all that would be involved.
JMHO

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Grizzley, we are all enamoured with certain old razor hones.
Indeed the good Swaty hones have held up nice in good environments and are quite effective.

It seems to me that most everyone who has one has a few. It's easy to upgrade to a nicer example.
If this one was on an aution site for starting bid of 9 bucks and had only a few days to go, it would speak volumes on the point.
Little chamfering around and good as gold. No bids.....




I think about 34 examples on one site alone and half seem nice.
It may be wiser to hoard nice examoles of vintage ones than making new ones with all that would be involved.
JMHO

Thanks for the info, but the one I already have is like new, except for the small (and I mean small) and that's on the side with the writing, so most of you would give me a smack on the head and say what's wrong with you. I know this but I get a little obsessive about this kind of stuff. The only way I could improve on the one I have is by finding one that's NOS with the original box, but that's my own issue...maybe a shrink would help......