Questions On A Newly Purchased Swaty

[DerekC]

So I get my new Swaty from the 'Bay this afternoon and examine it, only to utter the much-abused phrase from the iconic Oscar masterpiece Road House, "I thought you'd be bigger..."

Is my Swaty a dwarf, or is that the typical barber hone size?

Also, when I was testing the surface with a project razor, I noticed that the surface seems to be very coarse. I thought the 3-line Swaty was a super-finisher hone...but this feels closer to the 4k side of my Norton. I've attached pictures to aid in your superb dissection of my recent acquisition.

[gssixgun]

5 1/4 x 2 is the "typical size"
Barber's Hones are just different when it comes to grit, they really don't compare to other Stones and Hones even though we all try to pigeonhole them in there

You will fnd that a swipe of lather across the Swaty then 5-8 laps will get your razor shaving just fine, if all it needs is a touch up

[hi_bud_gl]

Lap your swaty first and try. gl

[DerekC]

I guess it was my own stigma with barber hones, then. I always viewed the Swaty as a cut above the rest.

[gssixgun]

I think of the Swaty's much like I think of the DublDuck's "Not necessarily the "best" but always the most consistent" certain brands can pretty much always be counted on to deliver the goods...
You might find an occasional single example that can beat them, but I haven't found many brands that are as consistent

[zib]

It helps to lapp it up to 1000 grit wet sandpaper IME....The finish should look new.

[thebigspendur]

With hones you can't always tell how it will perform by feeling it. It's not so much how rough it feels as opposed to how the grit is and once lapped the feel may change radically.

[DerekC]

Thanks for the advice, gentlemen!

Can't wait to bring it with me this weekend to the Kenosha, WI meetup and get 'er lapped up!

[MykelDR]

I am laughing just thinking about you lapping that sucker.

Lapping a Swaty is a bastard. A true pain in the rear.

[niftyshaving]

The size is normal even standard.
Some carborundum brand barber hones are smaller.

Before you lap it try it, scrub it with a green Scotch-Brite and some
cleanser. Comet will sanitize it.... should not need it
but I do not know if the last user used spit and tobacco
juice on it.

Rinse well and audition. Shave lather helps it hone
with a fine tooth. If you cannot hone a razor well
consider lapping it. Use the marker test to validate
if the hone and razor work well.