QUESTION: Size wise, what is the perfect shape and size hone?

I am interested in what is considered to be the perfect size razor hone. For myself, I hone on the table top with a 8x3x1.5 inches thick, but understand that many users hone on a palm size hand held stone. Any thoughts? Alx

There isn't a perfectly sized hone for every razor job you might ever need to do. You might find one that is perfect for you though, and if so, you are truly blessed :)

Every hone has a different purpose. Just for example, a small handheld barber'shone might be perfect for occasional maintenance, it would not be perfect for correcting a wedge's bevel.

I prefer to have a big hone on a stand if I am honing on the tabletop. As far as utility and stability, a larger 8 x 3 such as you have is good for me

All my hones are 8"x3" except my coti/BBW combo which is 6"x1.5". I hone all my razors with the stone in my hand, I just prefer it that way really..! :)

My barber hone is about 5"x1.5", but I rarely use that.

Depends on size of your hands as well as if the hone is slow cutter then longer is better.

Personally I prefer Brunettes, over Blonds or Redheads, but honestly the hair color is secondary to other things...





About the same question as what you're asking...

I don't like hones smaller than about 6 x 1.5 because I don't like making a short stroke. Anything bigger than that is fine, with the exception being when money is an issue (i.e. I don't think it's worthwhile to buy an 8 x 3 coticule or a giant Jnat).

As said above, it's all about personal preference. Let's just hope Glen's wife is a Brunette.... or that she doesn't read SRP.

I was somewhat curious about this based on barber hone sizes and my experience with the old barbers in Newark in the 1980s. I had gotten 3 coticules from 3 different barbers and all of them were 5x2 &1/2. In the recent past I've gotten a few more from estates of old barbers from the NE that are identical in size.The Escher Barber's Delight and Barber's Choice are 6x2.

So I was wondering if there was some advantage to these 5 or 6" x 2 or 2& 1/2" hones. Some relationship between the stroke you would have to use relative to the length of the cutting edge of the average razor. I've experimented with these and I can get a fine edge from these shorter hones. OTOH, I can get a fine edge using the longer hones and probably with less strokes.

This, of course, is meaningless since someone else with more skill might be able to put my honing in the shade with a barber hone. Not even close to scientific. I guess you get used to what you have and make do with it. I like to play around with the different sizes though and see what I can do with them.

Thanks fellas
It seems that the longer 6x2 up to the 8x3 are more popular than the older barber "fit in the palm" size style of the 1930 or earlier. Is that what I am hearing?

I use koppa size naturals because they are cheaper, I'd prefer full size stones if I could afford them though.

alx,

I like the 8x3 hones; I am a honing newbie, and find it easier to use the longer wider hones. I hold them in my left hand when honing, and the 8x3 hasn't caused any problems with this.

I must get some narrower hones, as I found one razor I have has a warped blade, and it wasn't fun trying to hone that on the 8x3 :(

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Ya know I have used just about every sized hone you can imagine from the little tiny 4x1.5 inches to the huge 10x4's and everything inbetween...
Even went so far as to cut down a set of Nortons for the same reason that Russ just mentioned, stiil have them, 8x1.5 just for warped wedges was my theory...

But truthfully the size just really doesn't matter, as you adapt your stoke, to suit the job at hand, with the hone at hand...
I wouldn't even say some are easier to use, if you learned on 8x3 then you are more comfortable with larger hones, and the reverse is true if you learned on Barber's hones...

Such as the theory of thinner hones for smiling and warped edges, I can tell you from somebody that actually went through the trouble of cutting hones, smoothing the edges, and lapping them perfect, that they work no better then their 8x3 big brothers...

So as the old song says "If you can't be with the one you love, Love the one your with" it applies to hones too...

I know you are going to think of all sorts of reasons why things should work better or worse, but really as long as you can get a smooth even stroke, all is good...

In rare occurrence I have found a narrow hone to fit the need better than the wider hones, but it is rare. Longer hones relates to less strokes but I am not sure the price point is justified once you go over 8 inches. The best size hones are the one's that fit your budget best. If money is no object go with what you are comfortable with. Hones larger than other in width and/or length may require more time on a lap than it's smaller cousins. Learn to work with what you have or can afford. It's not the tool that sets the quality in hand work such as honing, it the person using the tool. The rest is a matter of time at task.

I personally have found my preference to be in the width of the stone rather than length. That magic number for me is ~2"-2.5". Two reasons:

1. It's a good size to use on table or in the palm of your hand (at least the 2"-er is)
2. Since most blades I have are ~3" (give or take), then 2" would ensure that at least 2/3 of the blade is in constant contact with the stone, at least initially, at the beginning of each stroke...once the stroke is initiated, it doesn't matter...muscle memory keeps the blade at correct contact with stone at the part of the X-stroke which covers <2/3 of the blade.

Maybe these will be less of an issue as I become more experienced in honing (hopefully in the next 100 years :))

I prefer an 8x3" That allows me to hone the entire blade w/o using any stroke other than a straight back or straight forward, but I can use other patterns if I wish.