Thread: Honing Solutions

I noticed Glen recommended using a touch of soap or Smiths honing solution on Chinese stones in a recent thread - I occasionally use a dab of washing liquid or liquid soap on a Zulu Grey but was wondering about the honing solution. Presumably if it's not a problem on Chinese then there's no problem with the ZG. My real question though is does anyone use honing solution on synthetic stones? I have various including a Norton combination, Naniwa and a Shapton 16k.

I look forward to opinions.

Originally Posted by UKRob

.. My real question though is does anyone use honing solution on synthetic stones? I have various including a Norton combination, Naniwa and a Shapton 16k.

Yep, I use drop of soap on a 16K GS as well as on naturals. Glycerine or Smiths works just as well, I think, but the dishwashing soap is always right there by the sink .


rs,
Tack

I use a teaspoon of dish soap in a squirt bottle of water, the soap seems to prevent or lessen swarf build up on synthetic stones.

I use Smiths on natural stones with water. The Smiths and oils cushion the blade on the stone hydraulically and allow the razor to just touch the tips of the grit on the stone thereby lighting pressure and stria.

Soap and oil does not work to cushion the razor on most synthetic stones as they are too porous and the solution does not sit on top of the stone, except for very fine stones like barber hones.

2-3 drop of Smith’s on a wet natural will squeak out maximum performance from a finish stone.

I put Smith is a bottle that will dispense a single drop, I use a one ounce bottle with good results.

I have used lather on both naturals and synthetics. I find it ups the grit. Ymmv.

Thanks, these are all good tips. A drop of washing up liquid in a squirt bottle is a lot more obvious than adding a dab to the stone - should have thought of that myself.

I have used Lather on my Norton 8k in the distant past, trying to get the most out of my only hone

IIRC though, and I would have to dig deep to find the info sheets for mine, I believe there were warnings about not using soap with the Shaptons and the Naniwa SS just something to check at least rather then wrecking a hone...


Now for the "I've been doing it with no issues" posts, they are your hones, do as you wish

I've been using glycerin on my Norton 4/8 and 12 ss. I use dish soap for 30k film. It takes quite a few more passes on my modern razors, but I get a very noticeable improvement on my edge.

I tried lather on my Shapton 8K and 16K and found some interesting results. Finished on the 8K with lather, my razors become really smooth and good shavers, but I could do with a little extra sharpness for my tough beard. The 16K with lather does add that required sharpness, but I got a pretty harsh edge there. Currently, I'm trying to match that sharpness without the harshness (obviously), by using just water.

However, the Shaptons appear to become hydrophobic from using lather. Water beads on the surface and is wiped off readily by the razor. That also means I cannot use the undercutting action of the razor to see how well the bevel is touching the hone. I found rubbing the hone with some brandless natural nagura (from dick.biz) reduces this hydrophobicity, but it seems temporary and needs redoing on the next honing session. I don't know how the nagura affects the honing, but the Shaptons appear many times faster than the nagura, so I'm not too worried.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I use a teaspoon of dish soap in a squirt bottle of water, the soap seems to prevent or lessen swarf build up on synthetic stones.

I use Smiths on natural stones with water. The Smiths and oils cushion the blade on the stone hydraulically and allow the razor to just touch the tips of the grit on the stone thereby lighting pressure and stria.

Soap and oil does not work to cushion the razor on most synthetic stones as they are too porous and the solution does not sit on top of the stone, except for very fine stones like barber hones.

2-3 drop of Smith’s on a wet natural will squeak out maximum performance from a finish stone.

I put Smith is a bottle that will dispense a single drop, I use a one ounce bottle with good results.

I'm with you buddy...I too use a drop of dishwashing detergent in my spray bottle for my Shapton GS's. THe instructions do say not to use soap, but his diluted amount does well and doesn't harm the stones. I use the honing solution on my Zulu & CF from time to time.

Tend to agree with Gssixgun. I'm a little cautious about using anything other than water on a synthetic stone. Not knowing what bonds it together is a cause for worry to me. I have some older Barber hones that look and feel like they are starting to deteriorate and I hate to happen to my good hones.