Thread: Which side

Someone here mentioned that there might be a difference in the coarsness of the sides of hones. That the side with the makers name might be a slightly different grit than the other. Is this true, If so which side is the finest.

I'm guessing you are talking about barber hones?

Most of mine have been the same. My Keen Kutter Kombination and Frictionite 00 being the exceptoins. But these were advertised as being 2 different grits.

Originally Posted by mackie

Someone here mentioned that there might be a difference in the coarsness of the sides of hones. That the side with the makers name might be a slightly different grit than the other. Is this true, If so which side is the finest.

This has been a conundrum for barber hones that don't have the different grits specified on the side of the hone like the 00 Frictionite or the itsapeech. These instructions that came with a NOS Swaty I bought say that the side with the embossed name is the finer side. Other Swaty instructions I have seen don't make the distinction. It seems that some barber hones are the same and some are not.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

This has been a conundrum for barber hones that don't have the different grits specified on the side of the hone like the 00 Frictionite or the itsapeech. These instructions that came with a NOS Swaty I bought say that the side with the embossed name is the finer side. Other Swaty instructions I have seen don't make the distinction. It seems that some barber hones are the same and some are not.

Jymmy is right on it.
where is the stamp is finer always. gl

Of course there are also combo barbers hones which have two distinctly different sides with two entirely different grits also.

I've been wondering about this and have a question for you barber hone experts...

So, I've read a bunch of old threads on Swaty's and the general consensus has been that the label side is finer, back being coarser - this based on the original instructions Jimmy noted above. Many posts go on to say that the Swaty's associated with these instructions appear and feel homogenous. I note that the instructions go on to say that when refreshing the hone, use a fine emery on the label side and pumice (or other coarse abrasive - I don't recall verbatim) on the back side. My question is this: Could the hone be homogenous but the surface texture (as left by refreshing with a coarse or fine abrasive) make all the difference in honing characteristics???

I actually monkeyed around with this on my 2-line swaty. I lapped the label side from 325->2k, but only finished the backside to 500. There is a subtle difference in feedback and the backside is seemingly faster (although I'll need to hone more razors on it to tell for sure, could be my imagination).

Don't mean to hijack the thread but seems germaine...

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/comments!

-D

I'm not really a barber hone 'expert' although I've got a few. What I've noticed is that some of the Swaty instructions don't say that one side is coarser than the other. Whether they changed the formula, had more than one model , or just didn't bother is a mystery to me.

In the SRP Wiki image files there is a slightly different set of instructions for a Swaty and they don't specify one side being different from the other. I suppose if someone wanted to hone a test razor and compare scratch patterns under a microscope a trained eye could figure it out.

HMMMMmmm Yeah I haven't noticed that at all on the single hones,,,

I have been doing quite a few lately I lap both sides equally then test both sides for smoothness and no bumps etc: but I sure don't feel a difference between the face and the back... I'll try and pay more attention now...

Originally Posted by dericandteri

I've been wondering about this and have a question for you barber hone experts...

So, I've read a bunch of old threads on Swaty's and the general consensus has been that the label side is finer, back being coarser - this based on the original instructions Jimmy noted above. Many posts go on to say that the Swaty's associated with these instructions appear and feel homogenous. I note that the instructions go on to say that when refreshing the hone, use a fine emery on the label side and pumice (or other coarse abrasive - I don't recall verbatim) on the back side. My question is this: Could the hone be homogenous but the surface texture (as left by refreshing with a coarse or fine abrasive) make all the difference in honing characteristics???

I actually monkeyed around with this on my 2-line swaty. I lapped the label side from 325->2k, but only finished the backside to 500. There is a subtle difference in feedback and the backside is seemingly faster (although I'll need to hone more razors on it to tell for sure, could be my imagination).

Don't mean to hijack the thread but seems germaine...

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/comments!

-D

This could happen . Some are homogenous and you will not find out until use them on straight razor and check the edge.

So, do you folks think it's possible to change the characteristics of a hone by lapping it to a finer versus coarser finish??

-D