Thread: Hone of the Day

Originally Posted by Srdjan

Wow! I just read through a few Google hits, and found one on the Bay.... very interesting looking tool. I probably wouldn't stick it in my ear, but I get how it could be convenient to maintain a goatee. Hehe, you learn something new every day!

Wonder how it would do on nose hair? Scary. I have never seen any info on honing these either.

Last night's refresh and let me tell ya, the barber's notch portion on the toe, does just fine on those few annoying nose hairs peeking out [emoji23]

Originally Posted by DaveW

Carborundum stones are pretty bad for razors unless they're really fine. Their cut depth is more suitable for high speed steel or something that doesn't fracture.

Carborundum hones are identified as razor hones or sharpening hones. For the most part only the razors hones should be used with razors, and they work quite well.

Here is my honing for the week.
• A 7-day set of Mappin & Webb in a crocodile skin case with Ivory scales.
• An old Holley
• The kitchen knife is a Flint Vanadium blade that took an amazing edge with the exact same stones.

The Norton reversible hone has a lily white on one side and an India stone on the other. The Lily White cuts faster than my soft and leaves an edge finer than my Hard Ark. They were then finished on my Norton Translucent. All blades took under 15 minutes each from bevel set to shave ready.


I am really excited about this reversible stone. Loving it.

Originally Posted by rideon66

Wonder how it would do on nose hair? Scary. I have never seen any info on honing these either.

I can tell you they're no fun to hone or strop. Have to be very mindful of not rolling off the bevels.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I can tell you they're no fun to hone or strop. Have to be very mindful of not rolling off the bevels.

I didn't even think of stropping.. probably would do a few short passes on the palm of the hand, or paddle and be done. Don't think the ears would mind too much!

Originally Posted by Utopian

Carborundum hones are identified as razor hones or sharpening hones. For the most part only the razors hones should be used with razors, and they work quite well.

I agree that that subgroup works, but I've had a couple of those and always felt like they were marginal in the world of razor hones. But you're right, there's a huge difference between them and the stones intended for tools. The abrasive itself is a friable abrasive that breaks and stays sharp, but that means it cuts aggressively, even if you can clog it (and makes for a lot of loose particles if the stone is friable). It'd probably be different if they could've made one of those out of 1/2 micron particles.

Nice hones, Steel. I'm going to be getting more into Arkansas honing, just ordered a black from Dans. Also, I have a Holley similar to that one with the metal cap on the end of the scales, mine's a near wedge though. One of my favorites.

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

Nice hones, Steel. I'm going to be getting more into Arkansas honing, just ordered a black from Dans. Also, I have a Holley similar to that one with the metal cap on the end of the scales, mine's a near wedge though. One of my favorites.

Thanks. That old Norton reversible is a really neat attempt at some technology "back in the day". It flips within the box and opens either way.
I have a couple more Holley's with the end cap. One is a true wedge and one is a near wedge restored by Karlej. So I think the one pictures above was probably re-ground at some point. They are some excellent razors with hand forged steel (every last one of them). Congrats on the new hones too!

More JNAT testing:

Razor: Filarmonica Novodur & Tanifuji Maxfli
2-Stone Progression:
Bevel reset: Shapton 8K Glass with light DN slurry
Finisher: Unmarked JNAT with Kiita tomo ? ( looks Kiita )
Strop: Kanayama