Thread: a couple of new stones

got a couple of stones yesterday, and am seeking comments and information. can you identify these?

The top one looks like BBW (Belgian Blue Whetstone), but I very well could be wrong...

JP

The top one is definitely a BBW. Don't know anything about the apart hone. It looks like it's been lapped, and what impact that has varies from barber hone to barber hone.

+1 for BBW, that said The Apart Barbers Hone is a good one definately able to refresh a shave ready razor.

I have an Apart hone and it is a pretty fine barber hone. In the picture yours appears to be kind of white. Is there something on it? if not and it is kind of chalky on the surface it might need re-hydrated.

the apart:
when I got it it was bouncing around in a box of old very dirty tools. gunked up, chipped, scratched and dished. so I lapped it. it has a stain that looks like tape was left on it for a few years. it's hard. lapped slow. still has chips at the edges.

the blue:
same condition, very dished. soft, lapped quickly, purple slurry.

I have become a fan of re-hydrating barber's hones after lapping them. It can go a long way toward making them like new.

what does rehydrating involve? a long soak in water?

what issues arise from lapping barber's hones?

Originally Posted by bridger

what does rehydrating involve? a long soak in water?

It is just treating them with petroleum jelly. Depending on what kind of shape they are in they might absorb several applications over a couple of days. After a few days wipe off the excess and buff the hone with a towel.