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I am wondering if any hone meister will help me identify two barber hones I got from Ebay and give me some pointers on how to identify the grits etc. I could send pics via PM or whatever fashion is most convenient. I am a very newbie shaver still nicking and working my way through my first strop with three razors rotating.
Should you be so inclined, you could post the images here and we'd all be happy to help (if we can).
Hone #1: "F. Swaty.Wahring Bei Wien (Austria)
Hone #2: Brown Tan Side "King Midas Barber Hone Special"
Black Side "King Razor Mfg. Co. Indiana. PA
Post some pictures in this thread or even Ebay item number...Quote:
Originally Posted by dsg10715
pictures are better.
Most barber hones are very different from modern water
stones and bench hones and are used differently.
The only way to discover the grit is to use it and
compare it to a known grit modern hone. That is
still subjective and full of errors. It is possible
to polish a bit of steel run it over the barber hone
and another polished bit of identical steel and
run it over a modern hone with a modern grit
and compare the scratching.
Once your razor gets dull to where it needs a touch up
just give it a touch up. Do not think you are honing
or sharpening. Just visit the razor to the barber
hone four or five laps with a thin layer of lather
on the hone, then strop first canvas then leather and
shave test.
In general they cut fast so the lightest touch is needed
to not grind and build a burr or rough the edge. Floating
on lather helps with the light touch.
Clean if need with a common cleanser like Comet and a scotch
bright pad.
Search the forum and wiki there has been a lot
said about barber hones.
I've never seen a Swaty with that stamp, but the Swaty's are typically great barber hones. Their fine-ness varies a bit, but it should be a good finisher.
I have never seen that King hone, though I recently had another one of theirs that was a great finishing hone. Interestingly, I have a razor by the same company with the same name.
Here is a bad photo of the razor, and some pics of the hone I had.
Try the pictures again. Not so close. You want them
to be in full focus. You can put some pencil marks
on the hone or a bit of Post-it note to give the auto
focus something to focus on...
The barber hones never provided grit information. The closest they came was that some of the two sided hones indicated which side to use first. Since they are maintenance hones, they aren't intended to be used in a progression so the particular grit was pretty much irrelevant. In general, the imprinted side of a two sided hone, like your King, should be used second as it's the finer side.Quote:
Originally Posted by dsg10715
Some of the Swatys are also two sided and the imprinted side of that hone is also finer. Personally, I have never found a Swaty that had a difference between the sides.
Here's some new pics....many thanks for the picture of th ebox with instructions. Will buy an emery cloth since they are quite glossy.
Ron mention everything what you need to know about barber hones.
i would add about the quality of King midas hone. it is great quality hone. 'congratulations .
thanks everyone!
Caution:Quote:
Originally Posted by dsg10715
In some cases the glossy surface is a good thing.
Do not be in a rush to rub it off...
Try them first, as they are... perhaps scrub them with a little kitchen
cleanser if there is gummy soap or oil like film. Rinse well. Since you
have a couple hones audition them as they are now and sort then based
on the shave. The only test that matters is the personal shave test, all the
other tests are 'indicators'.
If water beads on the surface because it was used with oil, a drop
of liquid dish soap in a pint of water, rinse and hone wet with it.
Or use with lather...
With barber hones less is more, more often than not.
EDIT:
Some things can be undone or redone
the trick is to not cross the line beyond which
you cannot go back. Thus the caution...
Got it. Will do some shaving and see if its doing the job