Thread: I need some Barber Hone info.

Hi everybody. I'm looking for info on extra long Graco Barber hones. How do they compare to a Swaty?

I think that it would be a little hard to say, so many variables, such as experience with using barber hones to refresh a razor, the type of steel, the grind, the current condition of the barber hones themselves.

I own several Swaty hones & one very nice, maybe NOS Graco long strop back hone. I do not use them, they are just in my collection. I use an old beat up swaty for finishing my knives & axes, love it. My limited experience with barber hones on razors , currently are with a grey "NeverDull" & a "Pike Strop Hone", they work fine.

I just looked at my Graco & Swaty's closely, and there appears to be a noticeable difference in the feel, color. The Graco appears to be a little more course than any of the Swaty's. I can only guess, maybe as much as 2000 to 3000 grit difference. Then again , I have Swaty's that vary differently from each other.

Maybe a member here actually uses both & can get you a more accurate analysis.

If you find a Graco in good condition, I'm sure she will do the job, with a little practice on your side.

Post photos if you get her.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I think that it would be a little hard to say, so many variables, such as experience with using barber hones to refresh a razor, the type of steel, the grind, the current condition of the barber hones themselves.

I own several Swaty hones & one very nice, maybe NOS Graco long strop back hone. I do not use them, they are just in my collection. I use an old beat up swaty for finishing my knives & axes, love it. My limited experience with barber hones on razors , currently are with a grey "NeverDull" & a "Pike Strop Hone", they work fine.

I just looked at my Graco & Swaty's closely, and there appears to be a noticeable difference in the feel, color. The Graco appears to be a little more course than any of the Swaty's. I can only guess, maybe as much as 2000 to 3000 grit difference. Then again , I have Swaty's that vary differently from each other.

Maybe a member here actually uses both & can get you a more accurate analysis.

If you find a Graco in good condition, I'm sure she will do the job, with a little practice on your side.

Post photos if you get her.

The Graco you have is the one I was talking about. I think I won't buy it if it's more course than my Swaty. Do you think the differences in your Swatys are caused by metal particles from the straight razor in the hone? I heard the more you use Swatys the slicker they get.

When I say more course, it's not a lot, mind you, maybe 2000 difference;also I have different textures in some of my Swaty's.
No, it's not from metal transfer, some of my Swaty's are NOS, never used, others are cleaned when I get them.

The Graco will do a great job, I'm sure, get it if you can. There are not that many sitting around.

Different types of steel in razors, perform differently on the barber hones, sounds a little stupid, I guess, just I don't know how else to say it.

heck, you cant even go by feel sometimes. the only real test of a barber hone is to use it, and feel it on your face!

Not much info has ever been made available by the companies that made Barber hones. The information that I have comes from the recipes used by the American Hone Company. They used various grades ( grit size ) & types of abrasives. A lot of private label hones were made. As has been mentioned above you have to try each Barber hone to find out what it does for the edge. There is no other way.

The extra long hones 7" + are hard to find. Get one if you can as a collectible and it will also probably function as a touch up hone.

Just my 2¢