Thread: Barbers hone

Hi Guys,

I have a barbers hone, am I wasting my time freshening with a blade that was honed with tape?

It's a lot of agro taping a spine just for half a dozen passes on a barbers hone.

Does any one know which side of this I should use? I am wondering if the dark side is coated with an abrasive or maybe a higher grit?

I have watched GSSixgun's movie about using a barber hone and I don't think I will have a problem using it when I know which side to use and how to treat taped blades







Steve

If the blade was honed with tape you have to use tape on the barber hone.

A CrOx strop is a lot easier and faster.

Holi has tips in a current thread on testing a barber hone. Can't find the thread on this stupid Kindle

^ what Dave said

Lightly drag your fingernail across the surface ... both sides. That will tell you which is the finest grit side.
Personally, I do not like the looks of that hone. I doubt that it is fine enough for refreshing a razors edge. I suggest that you consider a 3 line Swaty or a Frictionite 00.
Hopefully others will post other finishing grade barber hones.

I enjoy my Apart Barber Hone. But my 3 line Swaty is right next to it in quality. You can find the Swaty for decent prices on the Bay.

I’ve sent you a PM regarding a minty, 2-sided barber’s hone that’s just collecting dust in my razor closet. It’s not something I’d use unless first evaluating for someone else’s use...or, something like that.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I enjoy my Apart Barber Hone. But my 3 line Swaty is right next to it in quality. You can find the Swaty for decent prices on the Bay.

Yes, yes, the Apart is better than the Swaty. Sorry, I forgot about that one.

A couple of other nice ones that I have are the Zennith and the Panama.

Thanks for the comment on the Apart, Randy.
And to the OP, with Outbacks encouragement, i took a couple blades to the barber hones for finishing. Not just touchups. And what i got was a very comfortable feeling edge. Now it wasnt the 3 or 5 laps that are recommended. I did a few hundred laps. This is not a normal thing on a barber hone. But the edge i got was a nice one to shave with.

So a "good" barber hone is worth having in your collection!

I recall reading the barber hone was used every morning to prepare the blades for that day's business. The barber would them use his strop for each customer.