Thread: barber hones

well as I read in the wiki a barbers home is 8 - 12 k but the thurigan is only 10 k
but is farmed from the same place they get eshers so even if its les does it do better on the edge then a barbers hone ?

Imma buy a C12k from local guy for $30 with a slurry stone with it. I know at woodcraft there $20, but would have to consider shipping etc. The seller wants $10 to lap it, I know lapping is not rocket science so what type of grit wet sand paper would be best for lapping a Chinese Stone. They say 320 for the Norton Stones, but was wondering if those Chinese Stones come pretty flat anyways so a higher grit would be better.

I find using a slurry on your finishing hone adds a lot of smoothness to the final edge, even on synthetic stones.

I dont know if its possible to use one on a barber hone though?

Originally Posted by shayne

Barber hones range 8-12k if this is so then its a great range . right...?

Then what is the need for higher ? how polished can a ting get ? and how much does that polish matter?

4k is for removing metal ya? so anything above is polish and gravy ( Gravy being a fine edge? ) mixed ?

I read yhe wiki and it is informative as far as vague comparisons go its hard to understand kinda like comparing a gopher to an elephant to a man with no arms or legs, what is the reference point he can use..

You need to make a distinction between actual grit size and effective grit size. When the barber hones are said to be in the 8K-12k range they are being estimated at the effective grit size. The only way to judge a hone is to use it on a razors edge and then see what the edge feels like on your face. Not all people like the same edge.

The Ch12K is not a hone I would use for a "quick" touch up. It is to slow of a cutter. Using a slurry would make it faster but also reduce the fineness of the edge. However it would be more than adequate for maintaining an edge.

slightly off topic: how effective is an escher alone at maintaining an edge like a barber hone (number of honing strokes aside)? how many folks find it nessicary to step down to a hone that removes more metal before stepping back up to the escher to polish?

Thats an excellent question and i look forward to an answer.