Thread: Did I "Break" my New Swaty?

I keep a small translucent on hand for lapping and prepping surfaces. Its only about 2.5 inch long, and 3/4 inch wide maybe? It doesnt need to be big to raise slurry, or bring up a polish on another stone.

Lapping to 1200 with a DMT and, if you have a buffing wheel, buffing the hone's surface with finer diamond paste brings back the mirror smooth surface although the barber hone will still have the mottled appearance lapping brings out that the original factor surface doesn't have.

thanks for the replies. I feel better about it now. I have a black arkansas on the way, so I'll be sure to use it to put a good surface on it...

The real problem comes with stones that only have a "skin" of abrasive. Once you wear through that, your toast!

you are lucky, the solutions that were mentioned in this thread do work great. without them, your new bh would have been very rough after taking that 325 to it. its a beauty btw. dont think I have seen one in that good of shape for a while now.

Originally Posted by sleekandsmooth

its a beauty btw. dont think I have seen one in that good of shape for a while now.

Thanks. I think it's NOS as it seems to have NO signs of use (except for the scratches left by my DMT!!)..

I've restored many Swaty's if they need it. They're hard little suckers. I'd start with the DMT XX, then C, then work my way throught 1000g wet sandpaper. I'd use a wire brush/toothbrush on the lettering. They come out new looking. I know many disagree, and think this ruins the surface. This has not been my experience.....

I'll have to try the Arkie thing, next time. The one on the right is finished.
You have two 3 lines, and the 4 line Swaty in the middle.

I've seen some Barber hones with a surface on them, I have a few, but not Swaty's. IIRC, Swaty's are not just surface treated. The grit seems to be through and through. In any case mine work great....YMMV.

Like they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

When I mentioned stones with the "skin" I was not talking about the Swats. They are through and through for sure.

You know what works best for putting the smooth surface back on a Swaty (or otehr stones) Rubbing it on a 2nd Swaty!
Provided they are made of the same materials of course.

Woops...I'm new to this conversation but, I have had for years a Smith's hard black arkansas. Have rarely used it. As for razor honing I wonder: Where does it fit in? Finishing? Better than Naniwa 12K or Shapton 16K or...just different. I'm intrigued. Thanks, gents.