Thread: Glycerin on hones

After reading a few folks' experience on here, I decided to try honing with a little glycerin last night.

I have a yellow-green/blue thuringian that I use for touchups occasionally. Just water. It's hard to keep the water on the hone for very many strokes (hand held).

I put a little water on the stone and then two tiny drops of glycerin were added. I was surprised at how well the water stayed on the hone. Kind of like liquid mercury dancing around.

Was the edge any better? Not sure as this stone always produces a fantastic edge but it was a lot less trouble.

The cumulative experience of the folks on this site is incredible.

Glycerin/water is a nice mix especially when substituting it for petroleum oil for various reasons (personal preference, not being able to put oil on the stone in your case).

The viscosity you can make it thicker or thinner with the addition of water. Washes off easily. It definitely does well at breaking the surface tension.

I'm happy it makes your experience with your Thuri a little easier.

I did the same thing with my Cnat. I can't say how much it does but I'm shaving directly off the Cnat (with plain leather stropping of course) now whereas I was going to pasted strops after that.

I'm getting good shaves so I'll continue to use the glycerin.

I really like using glycerin when I can remember to do so. I think it allows for a much sharper, keen, even and clean edge. Very little though, just enough to break the surface tension. Gives a greater polish on the edge when using finishing/polishing stones. And you know what that means....

I may have to give the glycerine and water a try on my Arky. Have never used oil on it, which is recommended and straight water doesn't stay on very well.

Anyone tried this on an Arky?

Adding the glycerin to break water surface tension is exactly the same concept as touching your lathered brush to the water on top of a barber hone. Lathered soap accomplishes it quickly but alternatively you can just rub a wet finger on a puck of soap and then rub that soapy finger on top of the wet hone to accomplish the same thing. Only a very small amount is needed to break the surface tension.

If you would like a honing liquid that has more viscosity, try Smith's Honing Solution. It mixes with water so you can vary the viscosity by varying the proportion of water. Unlike a honing oil, it comes right off with water.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Adding the glycerin to break water surface tension is exactly the same concept as touching your lathered brush to the water on top of a barber hone. Lathered soap accomplishes it quickly but alternatively you can just rub a wet finger on a puck of soap and then rub that soapy finger on top of the wet hone to accomplish the same thing. Only a very small amount is needed to break the surface tension.

If you would like a honing liquid that has more viscosity, try Smith's Honing Solution. It mixes with water so you can vary the viscosity by varying the proportion of water. Unlike a honing oil, it comes right off with water.

Yes sir. Lather works great. I use Smiths a lot. Great stuff. I believe that it's glycerin based as well.

Originally Posted by kelbro

Yes sir. Lather works great. I use Smiths a lot. Great stuff. I believe that it's glycerin based as well.

I've always assumed that, given the way it behaves, but I didn't have any evidence of it.

Try a drop of Dawn dish soap in your water & if you have it or a drop or 5 of Ballistol

Slawman

Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

I may have to give the glycerine and water a try on my Arky. Have never used oil on it, which is recommended and straight water doesn't stay on very well.

Anyone tried this on an Arky?

Yes, on my trans, same great results as used on other stones. But then again, it never really seamed to me that the surface tension was that high to begin with on the trans.