Thread: The Swaty vs all other hones

Hello all

I have been reading some of the threads about hones and honning,, many years ago there were the barber hones and I think they didn´t have so much headache choosing between so many hones 4000, 8000, 12,000 or even 30,000 grit or the diamond pastes etc etc etc.. Seems like honning is quite complicated,,, would a barber hone like the Swaty be the best and simple option even if it takes more time to hone or touching a razor?? I mean I just want to keep a good sharp on my new razor without spending so much money....

Thanks all your comments will be appreciated

I have limited experience. But I did a little experiment recently, using a completely dull razor and a barber hone. According to my log, I went 620 strokes before I gave up and went to a Norton 1k.

Yes... To your direct question...



The huge difference between then and now are the razors themselves, we spend so much time honing because the razors are not "Shave Ready" down on the corner like they were back then... Find an un-opened NOS razor and you will probably have very little problem getting her dialed in with a Barber"s hone...
_But_

Buy one off e-bay that has been neglected for the last 75 years in the back of somebody's drawer, and you have a good time trying
it is possible BTW just not very fun..

Barber's Hones are designed for quick maintenance touch up's not extensive bevel establishment..

Start with a shave ready razor and a B-Hone is all you might ever need to keep shaving with again

I've been wondering what the razor manufacturers used to hone up their razors before they left the factory back in the day.

Originally Posted by Str8nSharp

I've been wondering what the razor manufacturers used to hone up their razors before they left the factory back in the day.

I've wondered the same thing...someone needs to get the cats over at The Discovery Channel to do a piece for the straight razor community

Originally Posted by Rugbysh9

I've wondered the same thing...someone needs to get the cats over at The Discovery Channel to do a piece for the straight razor community

An episode of "How It's Made" did that recently at Dovo. From forging the blades to honing, it was pretty interesting but of course they didn't show how tedious the final honing an stropping were. I thought it was really interesting that the girl doing the honing had a bandaid on the pad of her thumb.

Hi!!

Listen, IMO barber hones are for maintenance AFTER the bevel has been set correctly. However, I do have a few barber hones that are extremely course and could possibley set a bevel if necessity forced it upon a person. Now, having said that, I surely would not try and set a bevel with a barbers hone, that basically cost me more than a good King 1k stone would cost. i.e. I have several BH's that I spent at least $26 on each. Most are 2 sided BH's and are great at keeping a bevel sharp and polished. I have @$19 in a King 1k that will set the bevel in a very short time when used properly.

I guess my point is really, one could attempt to set a bevel on a very special BH, like an Aloxite #200, which I believe is course enough. Or one could use it to touch up a otherwise uncomfortable shaving razor in 5 or 6 laps and then I use another, much harder and higher grit BH to polish it up with.

My 2 cents FWIW.

Happy shaves!

Mike

Once a razor is truly sharp, the barbers hone can keep it that way indefinitely! The other hones we use are to restore a razors edge, like Glen said, most of these things have been "bumping" around in a drawer somewhere for 75 years and need some TLC.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Once a razor is truly sharp, the barbers hone can keep it that way indefinitely! The other hones we use are to restore a razors edge, like Glen said, most of these things have been "bumping" around in a drawer somewhere for 75 years and need some TLC.

Thanks,, now,, having said that,,, do you think a Norton 12k or Shampton 16k will do the same job as the barber hone?? or is too coarse?? what stone do you think will do the same job as the barber stone??, thanksss

Originally Posted by Str8nSharp

I've been wondering what the razor manufacturers used to hone up their razors before they left the factory back in the day.

Don't kid yourself back in the 1800s they took the heaviest guy in the shop and put him on a foot pedal operated bench grinder and he was mad to begin with cause in effect they were calling him fat and thought he needed the pedaling exercise so he peddled like mad and as he put those razors to the stone the sparks flew like it was the 4th of July and he tested the edge by running it on his tongue until it was just right and then he stropped it on the horse next door who kept flicking his tail and he used that as the strop. Then he test shaved by using one of the goats they kept just for that purpose and....well you asked didn't you?