Thread: Found some hones today

Being a flaming newbie here, I find it difficult to talk about hones or even what to purchase in the way of hones. While rummaging through an antique mall today I acquired the below hones for a very few dollars! Are these proper to start the honing and learning process? If not, what do you recommends? Even if they are not, they are some very cool shaving memorabilia!

I have no idea on the BSB hone, but it can't be too bad. The carborundum - I thought it's a coarse or medium hone - but I can be wrong, as I haven't used one, just remember someone saying something about it

Do you have junk blades to experiment? Go at it

Cheers
Ivo

Collecting hones and their boxes in good condition such as yours is part of the fun of this pastime. Will they sharpen razors? Don't know! Try it. Find some old straight razors and get your hand muscles used to the rhythm of honing. The hones you have will sharpen things but probably will not wring out excellent performance from a straight razor. For that you have to go to a finishing grade stone. Many use the Norton 4000 and then the 8000. I like the belgian blue which is 4000 and then finish on the belgian yellow coticule and then natural leather.

By spending a few dollars here and there, I have accumulated a collection of over 400 stones from all over the world and it's fun to look at them and see what they'll do on steel.

I'll think you'll do ok with the hones.
I'm a big fan of dry barber hones myself, I prefer them to the norton.
I've never had any success with a norton, must be my technique...

This morning I restored the edge on a SS Dovo, It took 50 rounds on a 'Little Devil, then 50 rounds on a Army/Navy green pike, then 100 rounds on a 'Itsapeach'.

Shaved with it, it was like a hot knife through butter