Barber Hones Vs. Norton 4000/8000

Good morning.

I am sitting here planning my day out and looking at my shelves and as I came across my honing/ stropping shelf a thought crossed my mind as I was looking at my norton 4000/8000 and two old barber hones.

I know a lot of folks like the N-4k/8k and I know that probably an equal amount of people prefer an actual barbers hone.

What REALLY is the difference with the exception the N4k/8k is double sided?

Is it grit size? ease of use?

If a person just starting out and learning to hone a straight razor HAD to choose between the two, what would it be and why?

I once saw a video on youtube of aguy doing a quicky touch up hone using a barber stone and instead of water or oil, he actually used shave soap. Is that a good method to practice?

everyone have a great and safe day. Thank you for reading this.

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Originally Posted by PaulyGoodshave

What REALLY is the difference with the exception the N4k/8k is double sided?

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Actually many barber hones are also two sided. The differences are size, grit, binder, and purpose.
Most barber hones are significantly smaller and are convenient for holding in the barber's pocket. The grit of a barber hone can vary in size but the cutting of the hone is not a factor of just the grit. It is also due to grit density, the binder used, and other mystery factors involved in their manufacture! Barber hones never listed their grit size because it was irrelevant. The Norton hone was not made for razors (we just got lucky) but barber hones were.

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Originally Posted by PaulyGoodshave

Is it grit size? ease of use?

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Most barber hones were made expressly for the purpose of maintaining, not sharpening, razors. Barber hones are easy to use because they are so fast yet fine.

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Originally Posted by PaulyGoodshave

If a person just starting out and learning to hone a straight razor HAD to choose between the two, what would it be and why?

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Since most venture into ebay at some point, I'd say the Norton. It is more versatile because of its ability to sharpen a dull razor. Personally I think both would be preferred, especially given the low cost of a barber hone.

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Originally Posted by PaulyGoodshave

I once saw a video on youtube of aguy doing a quicky touch up hone using a barber stone and instead of water or oil, he actually used shave soap. Is that a good method to practice?

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Few barber hones are porous. Water just beads up on them. Because of this, when honing the water is just pushed off the hone. A small amount of any soap or detergent breaks the surface tension of the water to allow it to remain distributed evenly across the hone. For that reason, it is always preferable to use some lather, even it just a slight touch of the lathered brush to the wet hone.

Holy buckets you are a plethera of information. I really appreicate the time you took in passing on some of that knowledge.

I don't think I can quite bring a dull blade or a blade in need of repair back to full use just yet, I will rely on others at this time to fix my broken or dulls. I am more interested right now in just maintaining a sharp edge from time to time and I can honestly say that after reading your replies, I feel quite confident I can achieve this now. Thank you again!!

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Originally Posted by PaulyGoodshave

I once saw a video on youtube of aguy doing a quicky touch up hone using a barber stone ............
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That is the main advantage of a barber hone, quick and easy. No muss, no fuss.

By comparison the Norton requires soaking before use so it is not as convenient to use and it is much bigger. The plus side of a Norton 4/8 is that it is a known grit size and can function at several tasks.

I don't see much difference between the 8K and the barber hone. Over the lifecycle of a straight shaver they are pretty equal. The 8K is large. Too large as an accrutrement in my shaving sink area.

The 4K on the other hand is a nice tool to have around for trouble. It is essential for getting razors, particularly Ebay stuff, up and running.

The barber hone has a particularly important roll in learning how to hone. It finally breaks the mind away from the mistake that more honing is better and forces you to learn the value of less honing. It creates shorter cutting intervals. Because they are small you use the strokes that are the correct length and height in the x pattern.

Most people, learning to hone, make the gigantic mistake of using too much of the stone, cutting away too much steel, and failing to use an x pattern. Each honing iteration takes them from somewhat dull to overhoned. The Norton stone, while terrific, would be the equivilant of ice sculpting with a chainsaw. A barber hone would be the equivilant of using a small chisel.

The Norton chainsaw is an important tool, but, is best used by the person who knows why he is removing steel in the first place.

To maintain razors a barber hone would be my choice. To fix razors the Norton would be my choice.

A barber's hone can only touch up an edge that is pulling a bit from use. A norton 4k/8k can hone a razor from dull to shave ready and even set a bevel with some time on the 4K side.