Thread: Barbers Hones

I have heard various opinions about lapping and not lapping. I like to know mine a flat, and I am anal, so I lap the backs of mine and leave the front in original condition. Some can be hell to lap others aren't so bad. It usually takes a while even with a DMT8c. And as far as polishing, I have a 8x2 slab of BBW that I like to run over all my stones after lapping to help smooth them out a little.

Originally Posted by Disburden

Snip...

Sham, a friend of mine on shaving forums, has said that his norton axman hone improves all edges he's tried, even over the Escher stones.

It is indeed a very peculiar hone.
On a slightly dulling razor it performs pretty much like you'd expect from a barber hone.
It's on a already shave ready and finely tuned edge it seems to really pop.
As Sham has stated, it can improve on most any fine tuned edges, leaving an edge that really is wicked(almost too) sharp.

Originally Posted by TromNek

(follow up question on barber hones)

I've picked up a few a flea markets that are really grimy and have small chips and knicks.

Can I lap these with my DMT 325/600 ?

Should I polish one side after lapping ?

When I come across barber hones in rough shape, meaning dirty/stained( I don't usually buy one if it is chipped out), I Ez-Off it in the sink for 20- 30 minutes. Dish soap it afterwards, place the DMT 325 in the kitchen sink, water running slowly on it, then lap the back-side of the hone only under the running water; if I am going to use it.

No expert on Bhones here, but I question the lapping idea. As Glen said, part of the performance is the glazing/finishing on the stone. Cut through that by lapping and any possible benefit from that finish is lost. In an older thread on the topic, Jimmy mentioned cleaning up the stains & glazed swarf w/ Comet or similar cleanser and a scotch brite pad. I've done this on 3 w/ good results. 'Recently did that w/ one that had edge chips on one side, tested, shaved w/ the results - good 8k edge. 'Slightly smoother than a Norton 8k edge. Took the same blade and tried 6 more strokes on a 3-line Franz Swaty and there was no change over the chipped Pike Swaty. Certainly, the finish wasn't as sharp as a higher grit stone, but the smoothness made for a very respectable shave.

I find stropping more on linen after the swaty brings the edge up better. Lately ive had shaves as good as coticule and higher grit finishes with just a swaty on lather with heavy linen stropping.

I would clean up the Barber hones using the least aggressive method first, Comet and a nylon scrubber followed by soap and a cloth. The second choice would be the use of oven cleaner. The last choice is lapping. Do this only if the surface is unusable as is or if one of the sides of the hone is "high".
According to info from the American Hone Compnay some Barber hones were either rubbed with the hone mixture as a finish, buffed with the same, oiled, or , in a few cases, waxed.

I will now go with the Comet & scrubber method first, before considering the oven cleaner first.
I only clean a barber hone when the surface is dirty.

Thanks everyone. It's been very helpful. I'll start gentle and apply more force as needed.

Another question (might as well keep this all in one thread).

I've had a double sided barber's hone for many years. 'THE C-MON HONE' , Peter J. Michels Inc, Brooklyn, NY.
It's dark blue/grey with crystal flakes on the course side and brown on the finish side. The finish side looks like some kind of coating.

But the 'Franz Swaty' that I just got seems the same grit on both sides.
Is that how most of them are?
Do people only hone on the back side?

Barber hones are used as a "touch up" hone. When your razor starts to "pull" then a barber hone was used to restore the edge . Usually it was suggested that 5 round trip laps be used. Some guys use them as a maintainence hone to prevent the edge from degrading.
The C-Mon hone is called a dual grit hone and can be used on both sides. Use the side that is appropriate.
The Franz Swaty is usually a single grit hone and can be used on either side.
Single grit barber hones predominated but the dual grit hones were not uncommon.