Barber Hone advice

This hone just arrived in the mail today (ebay $20 U.S.) and I must say I'm pretty pleased, while the box is a little beat up the hone appears to have never been used.
All I know about barber hones is what I've read on the wiki so I wanted to check 2 things with you guru's
1) I think I'll give it a lap before use so is something like 320 grit w/d the way to go on something like this?
2) I assume I can use water or lather on this, is either method better than the other and once you choose do you have to stick to that method, or can you change between the two?
Thanks

A 325 DMT or 320 grit paper on a flat surface would be a good way to lap that stone. The one I got from eBay was advertised as lapped already, but I did give it a rub with my 325 DMT just in case. I dont know how flat they are NOS, so I'll defer to someone who's had one from NOS before on that one..!

They are pretty hard stones as well (or at least mine is!), so they can take a little time to lap.

AFAIK, you can swap between lather and water without any problem, just dont use oil on it. Once you put oil on it, its an oilstone forever more! I use water on mine, and it works well for touch ups.

Hope you enjoy that one, it looks like its in really good condition!

Please don't lap that hone. It looks to be pristine. Why would you lap it without trying it first? Most barber hones don't need to be lapped, ever, but if you use it and discover a problem then that's the time to lap it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Please don't lap that hone. It looks to be pristine. Why would you lap it without trying it first? Most barber hones don't need to be lapped, ever, but if you use it and discover a problem then that's the time to lap it.

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Unless there is a defect, please do not lap it. Try it with and without lather and see what happens.

Most barber hones are non-porous, so when you put water on them it beads up and each stroke of the razor will push water off the hone. Even very dilute lather breaks the surface tension of the water so it doesn't bead up, so it stays on the hone while you are honing.

Thanks guys, as allways I'm glad I asked.