Thread: Caborundum 102- ??????

So after seeing a bunch of threads on these little carborundum barber hones, I took a look at ebay and the prices sure seemed right, so I got a 102.

I cleaned it up, and it sure is a neat little guy, in his old box. But when I decided to test him out, I was left with some pretty big questions.

What I did was this--I honed out a Hjelestrand I got recently to 12K on naniwa SS. I had a mirror bevel, and I gave it TWO x strokes on the dry 102. (The box clearly says it's ok to use dry.)

A couple of things happened. Under the microscope, the bevel was completely trashed. I mean, huge, deep scratches. The edge was turned into a hacksaw, as well.

Then, the arm hair test--I've honed enough razors to have the AHT calibrted to my face now, and I can tell with pretty good accuracy how well a razor will shave off of how it acts on MY arm hair. (Your results may vary, of course).

I had been getting nice, quiet lay-downs off the 12K, the hair falling like grass before the scythe. After the two strokes on the 102? Nothing. I could shave hair off my arm, but it tugged and pulled something awful.

You couldn't PAY me to shave off of that edge.

What's more, to hone those two strokes out, I had to drop back down to 5K to do anything to them; 8K wouldn't dent them. So from all I can see, my Carborundum 102 is roughly 1K. Maybe 800.

So, either the hone I have (which fits the box it came in perfectly) is not actually a carborundum 102, or y'all have some tough old faces...

Jim you are correct. i can say there is 2 possibilities. In fact they are pretty fast cutters. will kill the almost shave ready edge.
Next is you have clean it up. if you could saturate the stone in the Vaseline it will slow down the stones cutting power.Then you should be ok.

I wouldn't use it dry, that's just me. What I would do is use lather thinned out with some water so the hone is less rough. Also vaseline, like Sham said, smooths the stone out. Some of the boxes say to cook the stone in vaseline to seal the pours.

Barber hones in general, unless it's a norton one or something similar, is not going to be like a 12K SS edge anyway. When I use barber hones and the like I always follow them up with some paste to smooth the edge. Can we see pictures?

Sham, if they kill almost shave ready edges, then I don't really get how they can restore non-shaveready edges.

I did clean it, soaked in alcohol and scrubbed with a brush and cloth till no more oil came off.

Disburden, you use a barber hone and then a pasted strop? Doesn't that defeat the stated purpose of a barber hone, namely something you can use for a couple of strokes mid-shave to bump up a dying edge?

I might as well just keep a naniwa 12K in my bathroom...

I'll post pics in a bit.

I usually use Cerium which I don't think really sharpens much but adds mostly smoothness to the edge. Barber hones are cool and I do use them from time to time but remember they usually finish at 8K so if you want more you need to move up to something else after a touch up.

Why this stone ruined your edge is a question for me too...

Originally Posted by JimR

So, either the hone I have (which fits the box it came in perfectly) is not actually a carborundum 102, or y'all have some tough old faces...

Or there may be something faulty about the stone, especially if you need to drop back to 5k to restore the edge

Does the box say "Razor Hone?" The Carborundum company changed product lines a few times over the years, and that means you'll find the same model number on the finest grit razor hone as well as the lower grit carpentry stone. (I think I posted something about the #201 in that case.)

Christopher

I have plenty of Barber hones. None sound like Jim's. I do use mine dry, with great results. I normally use a Swaty.
Jim: Yours does not sound like a finisher, especially if it'a a Carbo. Aren't they usually rough, like you said, 800-1k grit?
Utopian is the expert around here on Barber hones....

It really sounds like the stone does not go with the box. Either that or the hone has a high side.

Jim what is the exact dimensions of your stone. Your stone shouldn't act as 1k level. there is no way but carborundum will kill the shave ready edge. The reason stone acts such a matter is it is powerful cutter and user experience with barber hones.
if you have made more strokes with more pressure your edge will get chipped. i know you said you have done very few strokes.