Results 1 to 10 of 10
Like Tree6Likes
  • 1 Post By ajc347
  • 5 Post By ajc347

Thread: Rescuing a Barbers Hone

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    44
    Thanked: 5

    Default Rescuing a Barbers Hone

    I had a go at rescuing a strop-backed Barbers Hone today.

    I'm not the most practically gifted of people and have zero artisan skills.

    I took an old AAT strop-back hone which had a worn bit of thin leather and a thick bit of felt which was coming away from the hone itself and cut up an old, cheap hanging strop and used both bits of leather from that to replace the leather and felt, in order that the hone can be used by a friend from another forum.

    Here's what I started with:










    The felt and adhesive washed off with detergent and I cut the bits of leather to size:


    Last edited by ajc347; 07-19-2012 at 07:26 PM.

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to ajc347 For This Useful Post:

    mapleleafalumnus (07-19-2012)

  3. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    44
    Thanked: 5

    Default

    A bit a Araldite was applied, allowed to dry and after a trim with a craft knife, some sanding and an application of neatsfoot oil I was left with this:






    The trimming is a bit uneven and I wouldn't want to strop on the reverse side as it has little give in it, however I think I have been able to breathe some life back into this hone. I've also come away with an understanding of how difficult it is to work with thick bits of leather and have a new found appreciation of custom strop-makers.

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to ajc347 For This Useful Post:

    mapleleafalumnus (07-19-2012)

  5. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth Hirlau's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    13,530
    Thanked: 3530

    Default

    Thank you for sharing your work. I worked on three strop/hones this year, only had to replace the felt on each. If you still have the original leather, I would keep it. The leather looks actually in good shape from the photo. I saddle soap the old leather, and lightly brush with a toothbrush, let dry for over a week, lightly work in Bickmore, reattach with rubber cement.
    Keep the old leather, work with it for a while and save it for your next hone, maybe even create another stop/hone with it.

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Hirlau For This Useful Post:

    ajc347 (07-19-2012), roughkype (07-20-2012)

  7. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    44
    Thanked: 5

    Default

    I never thought of keeping it to re-use.

    I'll certainly give you suggestions a go.

    Thanks mate.

  8. #5
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Frozen Wasteland, eh
    Posts
    2,806
    Thanked: 334

    Default

    That looks great! You are to be congratulated, Sir!

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to mapleleafalumnus For This Useful Post:

    ajc347 (07-19-2012)

  10. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth Hirlau's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    13,530
    Thanked: 3530

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ajc347 View Post
    I never thought of keeping it to re-use.

    I'll certainly give you suggestions a go.

    Thanks mate.
    Your welcome.
    You could even cut the old piece down to the size of a pocket stone, that might be lying around the house. Make yourself a strop/hone out of an old carborundum for your pocket knives.

  11. #7
    lobeless earcutter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    4,864
    Thanked: 762

    Default

    Brother - that's awesome - I am inspired!
    David

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to earcutter For This Useful Post:

    ajc347 (07-20-2012)

  13. #8
    'tis but a scratch! roughkype's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Durango, Colorado
    Posts
    2,080
    Thanked: 443
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    Yeah, that's a nice piece of work! Don't sell yourself short.
    "These aren't the droids you're looking for." "These aren't the droids we're looking for." "He can go about his business." "You can go about your business."

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to roughkype For This Useful Post:

    ajc347 (07-20-2012)

  15. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    44
    Thanked: 5

    Default

    Thanks for the positive feedback guys.

    It's certainly given me the confidence to attempt to do something like this again.

  16. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    44
    Thanked: 5

    Default

    UPDATE:

    I've just used the hone to sharpen and strop a blade (following Neil Miller's advice on another forum), and must say that it has performed a lot better with the new bit of leather on it than it did with the old leather / felt combination.

    It feels very similar to using my paddle strop (although it does need to be used a bit more delicately).

    All in all, I'm really happy with what I've achieved.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •