Thread: Swaty lube, grit

What grit is a swaty?

Is it used dry, with water, or with oil?

Generally around 8000k. With use appears to get even finer and smoother.

Lather and or water is used for lubricating the hone. My Swaty, seems to work better with lather.

Hope this helps.

I can never understand the "grit" on hones.. If a hone is 8 k, then you should be able to use it like a 8 k water stone correct? But everyone (and the box instructions) always say you only swipe it 5 (or so) times on the stone to refresh a blade? What's the difference?

@Wintchase,

I have several swaty's and like twogun said, it seems they get smoother with use. Having said that, I agree with you in that if I have a razor that is pulling a little, I can and do use my 8k as a touchup stone just the same as I would with my Swaty's. I have had dozens of barbers hones, literally had close to 50 at one time. I collected them long before I learned to hone on a reqular basis. I now have the full set of honing stones, from a 800 thru to a Naniwa 12k, so my barber hones hardly get touched, except to show them off or as trade materials.

Rene (nicknbleeding) did a test with a bunch of barbers hones that I sold (and traded) him seeing if a suitable edge could be obtained strictly honing a razor on nothing but barbers hones. He was successful, and showed that it would be completely possible to use varying grit barber hones to take a razor from dull to shave ready. Not to say that it would be overly comfortable, but very doable.

In theory, if you used your Norton 8k as a barber hone, you should be able to achieve similar results with just 5 or 6 passes on it to strictly 'refresh' the edge. If it is a shot razor, you won't have any more success with the barber hone than you would with the 8k without a whole lot more laps.

So to answer you directly, I don't believe there really is a difference, only in the approach to the stone. One is considered part of a full honing regimen, where as the BH is considered a quick touch up stone.

As in all things, YMMV, and this is only my opinion on this.

M

Originally Posted by Wintchase

I can never understand the "grit" on hones.. If a hone is 8 k, then you should be able to use it like a 8 k water stone correct? But everyone (and the box instructions) always say you only swipe it 5 (or so) times on the stone to refresh a blade? What's the difference?

The density of the grit and the type of grit it is

Barber's hones have a high cutting function as compared to an equal grit water stone.. because they have a high density and a an aggressive type of grit

Compare .50 Micron CrOx to .50 Micron Diamond Paste to .50 Micron AlOx or .50 Micron FrOX all these are .50 yet all will cut at different speeds and depths

The two we use the most for razors the Cr and the Diamond are very different cutters, I have heard of people doing 50 laps using CrOx (I never do) yet doing higher numbers of laps of .50 Diamond is thought to rip the edge to shreds

Interesting stuff,What do they use as cutting media in syn hones?

Depends on the brand, but it isn't that easy,,, The binder plays a part too, how the binder breaks down and releases the grit changes the equation..

How the Barber's Hones were made is a mystery on most of them, Randydance has more info on this then anyone I know on the forums so maybe he will see this and answer your more technical questions..

I did a very dull razor, shaveready and very smooth yesterday with barber hones Only.. Test shaved this morning, excellent results.
I have never honed before, i used to send razors and pay for it. The resulrmade hones i got was equal in comparison in my case with my face.

I setted bevel on aloxite 200 finemanchester hone. First dry then wet. Went fast. Then carborundum 102, dry then wet then then with liquid soap.went fast.
Finished with 15 laps on vintage thuringen celebrated razor hone.
Did 50 on felt strop and 30 on leather.
Whole process was over in less then 20 min.

It was my first honing and it went great. I will definately continue to hone now and make use of my other hones aswell.

Originally Posted by Frameback

with barber hones Only..
Finished with 15 laps on vintage thuringen celebrated razor hone.


.

Glad the process was easy for you but a thuri is not a barber hone!

Originally Posted by Martin103

Glad the process was easy for you but a thuri is not a barber hone!

Some were used as barber hones, though today, a barber hone does typically refer to a synthetic.