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  1. #1
    Member fcohio's Avatar
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    Default Two sided barber hone,which is fine/coarse?

    Hello Everyone,
    I have a 7" King Razor Mfg. barber hone which a red side and a blue side.The texture differences of the two side are very subtle. I am using this hone sharpen a 5/8'' John Engstrom Jr. co. of Little Valley, NY. str8 . This hone seems to cut much slower than the Norton 4/8k. But, I am going to attempt to bring this razor up to speed using the barber hone, this will be a learning session for me.
    If anyone has info on this razor or hone it will be helpful.
    TIA
    FredC.

  2. #2
    Razorsmith JoshEarl's Avatar
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    Without any basis for this, I'm going to guess that the red side is the finer side. I have seen a lot of redish finishing hones.

    Barber hones are very cool. They do cut much slower than the Norton, but the upside to that is that it's very hard to overhone with them. Sometimes they work great on a razor that just won't take an edge any other way.

    Good luck,
    Josh

  3. #3
    A Newbie....Forever! zepplin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JoshEarl View Post
    Without any basis for this, I'm going to guess that the red side is the finer side. I have seen a lot of redish finishing hones.

    Barber hones are very cool. They do cut much slower than the Norton, but the upside to that is that it's very hard to overhone with them. Sometimes they work great on a razor that just won't take an edge any other way.

    Good luck,
    Josh
    Josh,
    I will start using a Norton in a couple of weeks. I, too, have a very fine barber hone that I want to practise on a couple of my Grandfather's razors. They are in very good shape. - little to no honing and very good steel. One is a beautiful "Red Imp", #133. Without looking at the razor, how long do you think would it take to make this baby shave ready with the barber's hone? - I don't think I can hurt it.
    Thanks -

  4. #4
    Razorsmith JoshEarl's Avatar
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    I think you're right that it would be hard to hurt it. With a medium hone, it would probably take at least a few hours to get it shaving. Maybe less if the blade is close to being sharp. But what the heck--give it a try. Stop every 100 laps or so and evaluate the edge. You'll probably learn a lot from doing this.

    Good luck,
    Josh

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