Thread: Circles on a barber hone.

Originally Posted by Utopian

In watching the video, I get the impression that the intent of the circle stroke is not so much a honing stroke so much as a redistribution of the slurry across the width of the hone following the x-stroke.

Any opinions?

HUGE +1
I agree, but it also works on the Barber's hone with Shaving Lather... That was how I ended up trying it, I saw the vid and then put 2 n 2 together and thought it would work to keep the Lather on the Barber's hone too....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

HUGE +1
I agree, but it also works on the Barber's hone with Shaving Lather... That was how I ended up trying it, I saw the vid and then put 2 n 2 together and thought it would work to keep the Lather on the Barber's hone too....

Thanks Glen for stating the obvious that wasn't obvious to me. I did NOT put 2 and 2 together. I've been using barber hones for several years now and probably first saw that video at least two years ago but I never made the connection. I guess it's time I start using barber hones the right way now!

Thanks Ben, for the great video and Glen for mentioning it in the first place. As a honing greenhorn, I've wondered what the cirlce is that I've read about in various threads but haven't been able to find in the wikis. There's nothing like an actual visual demonstration.

Originally Posted by leadduck

Thanks Ben, for the great video and Glen for mentioning it in the first place. As a honing greenhorn, I've wondered what the cirlce is that I've read about in various threads but haven't been able to find in the wikis. There's nothing like an actual visual demonstration.

The circle stroke in that video is not the circles that are constantly being discussed lately. For an "actual visual demonstration," click on the Webcast button in the toolbar at the top of the forum webpage. You will see Lynn's demonstration of honing including the circles.

Well pigtails with lather it will be...

When I said potato chip I should just say warped
blade. If I lay a straight edge near the sharp part
there is clearly a warp. On one side I can see
an air gap.

The spine has problems that are less clear.
I think it has been over honed to flatten the warp
and that made it worse. At this point the
goal is to sharpen it, not correct it....

Some days I wish someone had a micro TIG welder to
rebuild the spine with.

The carborundum hone I am working with
is a No. 102 hone and is about 1.5" (3.75cm) x 4" (10cm).
It is thin enough that I get a local alignment of the spine
and edge.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Well pigtails with lather it will be...

When I said potato chip I should just say warped
blade.
....snip....

I ended up using the side of a Velvet Edge barber hone.
The warp and previous honing gave it a terrible bevel.
So lots of laps on the thin edge of a barber hone seems
to have put an edge on it. Finished with 2μ diamond
on leather followed by 0.25μ diamond on leather,
clean canvas, clean leather.

I am still not happy with the edge but it is much
improved...

Originally Posted by Utopian

In watching the video, I get the impression that the intent of the circle stroke is not so much a honing stroke so much as a redistribution of the slurry across the width of the hone following the x-stroke.

Any opinions?

I think he may also be removing any burrs that may be dangling on the edge.

No doubt that motion would remove a burr but I doubt he'd be producing a bur on a coticule. I've never been able to find any evidence of a bur on a razor.

Just an idea, maybe someone can email the gentleman and find out.

I've used circles on the courser side of a two sided barber hone.