Thread: The definitive Barber's Hone grit answer..

I have a (you guessed it) NOS DD barbers hone that I swore I would never use. ( Your twisting my arm here) It has 2 sides and the finishing side feels a lot softer than my 12k Nani. More like some fine naturals Wolf has given me the opportunity to hold. Any barbers hone must have done the trick because that's all they had :<0) .

One thing I found fascinating is that 1500 swipes didn't get rid of all the scratches. So that tells me not alot of metal is being removed. This makes me rethink how all those razors got so worn down by Barber's Hones.

Originally Posted by souschefdude

One thing I found fascinating is that 1500 swipes didn't get rid of all the scratches. So that tells me not alot of metal is being removed. This makes me rethink how all those razors got so worn down by Barber's Hones.

Would more pressure do it? If they are pretty slow, people might have been tempted to push the razor onto the stone harder.

As an aside, before all the synthetics were easily available, what did people do once the barbers hone stopped being effective, if they left it too long before maintaining it? i realise that naturals would have been around, but I am sure folks didnt have the cash for a pipe of hones.
And what about lapping in the old days too?
This is a genuine question, I am not just following you round being argumentative today

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Would more pressure do it? If they are pretty slow, people might have been tempted to push the razor onto the stone harder.

As an aside, before all the synthetics were easily available, what did people do once the barbers hone stopped being effective, if they left it too long before maintaining it? i realise that naturals would have been around, but I am sure folks didnt have the cash for a pipe of hones.
And what about lapping in the old days too?
This is a genuine question, I am not just following you round being argumentative today

Pushing down on the razor, IMO, flexes the blade and results in honing the shoulder of the bevel, especially on the hollow grounds, not so much on wedges.
Ed, not sure what they would have done. I know back in the day every town would have a dude who would sharpen your knives, not sure about the razors.

We still have a dude that sharpens our saws and drills...

Now i'm going back to buy that barber hone in the junk store. There's a celluloid-scaled razor with it, but it's 5/8 and rusty as wallace and 'em. I'll leave it for some "lucky chap". I got my eyes on a fat one, will report later.

The 1500 strokes were without any liquid. (Though Technically air is a liquid)

For about the most definitive database on barber hones, go here: Barber Hone Reviews

Razor and Stone site is owned by one of the most knowledgeable stone guys I know, most of the veterans remember Sham...

Hereis a pic of my BHs.

My intention was never to instruct anyone to take 1500 laps on their hone.
I started taking ten then observing. Seeing no change went to 20, then 50 then 100.

I received a Carborundum 118s in pristine condition, and I can tell just by feel this thing is rough. I would bet it is in the 2k zone.

As a note, I shaved with the blade yesterday and it is fantastic.

I've used my King Kutter K20 with good results when doing a refresh.
Directions are pretty clear, 4 to 5 strokes.
"Water, soap-suds or oil can be used...but clear water is best."

Not bad for $20 off Craigslist
Great Thread for us newbies...I'm just not ready to start full bore honing....




Either I'm came in on the end of a VERY active thread OR I just killed it.