Thread: Halp - just want a decent barber hone. :(

Well, I've posted here before, but it's been long enough that the boards have been "reset" since then apparently.

2 years or so ago, my wife got me a white-handled "solingen" blade straight razor for christmas:



The word "solingen" is etched into the handle. I've sent it off to Lynn twice for honing. He once commented that it was a "pretty good shaver". Doesn't seem to want to hold a hone worth anything. I've got a second razor off of the classifieds here, translucent orange scales 5/8", square point, full hollow, "Blue Seal" etched on the blade of that one. Holds it's edge far better, but it has that square edge rather than a round one, so I keep slashing my cheeks open with it. :\

ANYWAY - at the same time my wife bought the razor, she also bought a "Col. Ichabod Conk" hone on a wooden paddle. I think everything that needs to be said about it was said here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...abod-conk.html

I've checked the classifieds - there's nothing for sale there right now. About a year ago, I jumped on here and bought what was listed as a "poor-man's barber hone". It was a little 1x1inch square stone...??? I have no idea how I would appropriately use something so small.

So - help? Ebay has all sorts of hones listed, can't tell heads from tails as to what is decent on there right now. Clearly, all of them would need lapping. Is there anything that is a "known-good" that I could pick up right away?

If you are looking for something to touch up the edge between honings, you can't beat a Franz Swaty barber hone. You can pick up a decent one for around 20 to 30 bucks.

If you send me a PM, I can help you pick out a decent one on eBay.

The razor that has the sharp point on the end can be re-modeled to be just slightly rounded to convert it from a spike point to a square point. This will have little impact on its aesthetics but will drastically reduce its tendency to bite you. You can do this on the side of your hone after you get it!

+1 for Utopian's suggestion of rounding the point of the square-point razor. Just a little bit should be enough.

Charles

I know I'm slow, but I'm still looking. :P

barber's hones are all over ebay at a constant rate and they get the job done. Coticules work too and do a lot more than just touch up a razor but they are expensive.

Originally Posted by Numbski

I know I'm slow, but I'm still looking. :P

Talk to larry at Whipped Dog Straight Razor Sales

nicest guy in the world and he had a bunch of old barbers hones a while ago...
(and you cant beat his prices. did I mention he's a nice guy?)