Thread: Carborundum 103

I got a razor hone a while back with a lot purchase off of eBay. The hone is in a dark blue box that labeled carborundum razor hone. The no. On the side of the stone is 103. Any idea what grit this is equivalent to?

Welcome Dusty,
Provide us some photos if you can, it helps alot. It's diffucult to rate Carborundum stones/hones over the 800/1000 grit. I have data for lower grit stones, but these razor hones have little data available. I have a few Carborundum razor hones, but would not put any over 4000.

Sorry I can't be better help.

photos would deffinatly help but usually the hones from them are in the 1k to 2k range max

No clue as to the real grit rating but yes the 103 will give a shaving edge, it might take some work though. here is a links to a few old threads:

difference in carborundum hones

carborundum 103

try it out and report back

jim

The grit is largely irrelevant with barber hones, baked ceramics & natural finishers. The
Although some barber hones can set a bevel. I believe the instructions on the box will describe that one as a finisher.
Whether it finishes to your preference can only be determined by testing

I have a few and like them.
it is very agressive and fast cutting..it will leave a very sharp feeling edge. Its certainly shave worthy but needs a good leather stropping to smooth the edge out more.

Pastes afterwood in a strop would smooth it too.
You can certainly use it and be happy.

I think that the carborundum barber hones are nice working hones that you can shave right off of with a little practice. Try it with a bit of lather, and ignore the silly advice in the Carborundum instructions that you only need 5 or ten strokes --- plan on 40 or 50, takes some practice hand-held, but it will work. Under-rated, in my opinion.

I am going to partially agree, and partially disagree with Stimpy and Disburden. Aggressive and fast cutting? kind of sort of. 40 or 50 strokes? Only if the edge has really degraded first! if you use it as a touch up stone, you wont need more than 6 strokes (IMO) I like mine, though I dont use it often. Its nicer than the 118S stone, but I dont have a 101 to compare it to (yet)

The carborundum 100 series hones cut very fast and will leave a wire edge under magnification in about ten strokes or so. Check and see for yourself, use 100X Mag and check the edge after 15 strokes.

The 103 is the most agressive of the 101,102,and 103. You will only need 3-6 strokes on shaving lather to bring an edge. If you need a ton of strokes then your bevel is messed up.

The edge left by the 103 is very shavable but needs to be smoothened with leather stropping, about 60 laps. I wouldn't even make 60 strokes on a swaty hone and those are way less aggressive than carborundum material.