Thread: Barber hone grading

In another thread I suggested that it would be useful to have a grading system on member known and used barber hones. Questions always arise about where a barber hone could fall in the honing process, if at all. I would like more information on how differing barber hones compare against each other, along with finish shave potential. Am I alone in this, if not please contribute to this thread.

I had suggested a set of ground rules for conducting the test of each hone but believe that my initial ideas lacked a sound baseline to work from. I now propose the following:

(1) 1 razor used for all tests
(2) Razor to be honed to pass thumb nail test clean and well with 4k grit hone prior to each test.
(3) lubricant for hone to be water only. (possible follow-up on reaction with lather/dry/oil)
(4) 60 round trips on a plain leather strop. (possible follow-up on leather-linen etc)
(5) Single WTG stroke cheek. (possible follow-up on duration of edge on full shave single pass)

Findings to be posted as a "reply post" with each participant using the same post for all the tests they carry out using the edit function.

Can anyone think of a better way of conducting a test for these hones that would give a good general feel for a hones ability? Please help by giving your opinion.

PuFF

Well, I think the problem first is that there are just so many barber hones out there and even if 10 people used the same routine in a hone you'll get 10 different results unless the people were real honemeisters. The other issue is that in general barber hones are finishing hones. I don't think you'll ever run across a 1K barbers hone and I'm doubtful there are 4Ks. maybe a few 6K mostly 8K and up. I don't think you have to worry about ruining an edge using any barbers hone.

Agreed spender, but it's a start. What about a stone like my Keen Kutter Kombination. It is two sided. Does that mean a separate test, although the are meant to be used together?

I am of the opinion that barber hones were marketed as finishing hones but few could lay claim to it, this is based on my impressions of course. Would it not be useful to blow the myths away that get attached to them? I really like barber hones but would never expect them to get an edge bevel as polished as an 8k Japanese water hone or the norton. Many times I hear that barber hones are 6-8k, this may be true but I have yet to see one give as fine an abrasive finish as that. Yes you can shave with a razor off what could be called a finishing barber hone but to a beginner, what is a finishing barber hone and in what steps of hone could he get to a good edge just with barber hones.

My idea was to get base line for all hones that are used and the differing range of honing skills would only serve to highlight to the beginner what he could expect from a certain hone, as well as what could be achieved with practice on the same hone. Differing abilities would only serve to show that at a given skill, the commented finish can be achieved or better.

If this idea is of no benefit to this forum in general, then perhaps I should conduct the test myself on my limited range of hones. It would have been interesting to have been able to read how others faired with other makes though.


PuFF

I don't know about using one razor for all the tests...I've got a German steel razor that loves my aloxite hone (even though the rule of thumb is the harder the steel the softer the stone), and the waterstone barber's hone that I have doesn't do much for it at all, but that doesn't mean the waterstone's coarse.
And I guess if you're concerned about the grit rating, you could hone up a razor with the Norton 8000 waterstone and then try the various barber hones to see if they produce a finer or coarser edge.