Thread: swaty hone

I think when I got my swaty the instructions I read said to use the bottom side without a label for 1/4 hollows and wedges, and the top side for hollows. Why not just use both? 5 passes on the coarse side and 5 on the smooth side seems fine to me. Anyone else use this hone and how do you like to do it?

Matt,
I can't answer your question but I will point out that your Swaty hone is likely to be the alumin variety, as it it my belief that the rest of the Swatys were homogenous throughout, and therefore the two sides were identical.
I suppose I could have made that into a not so run-on sentence but I don't feel like fixing it.
Since you have the instructions that came with the hone, is it the alumin version?
I love Swatys but I have never used an alumin.

I was about to say that if a typical Swaty hone had two different grits to it, it would have had to been an impressed pattern as my Swaty (2 line) was homogeneous throughout and if indeed there was a surface difference from manufacturing, I've long since blown it seeing I lapped both sides of mine!

I have seen several examples of 2 sided barbers hones with a coarse/fine grit but do not recall seeing a Swaty like that. Is yours a dark reddish brown sort of color? That's what mine looks like as well as all the ones I've seen.

I'm pretty sure I have a photo copy of the Swaty instructions somewhere... I'll see if I can find it.

Regards

Christian

Give that Gent a cigar... indeed... the instructions refer to the surface of one side being different from the other.... or in my case, not anymore! I can't complain though, mine was a 2 line and a bit on the rough side for my liking... I find the lapped surface is still very quick and leaves an edge plenty good enough for shaving though I do like to polish it up a bit more with some chromium oxide if I have time... If I'm in the middle of a shave, a few swipes using some water or lather is good enough.. normally, I'll use it dry.

Here's the pix:

These are the instructions I needed. I have a 3 line swaty so I am assuming the bottom side is of a coarser grit. Thanks.

I've never touched a razor to the bottom side. Of course I just use my Swaty for finishing and touch ups so I'd guess a rougher surface isn't needed by me.

FWIW There doesn't seem to be much difference in grit on my older Swaty (Franz Swaty Wahrung Austria) but on the newer three line Swaty, there is a definite difference and the hone does not seem quite as fine of a grit.
John P.

about what grit is a swaty? what $ do u normally see them go for?
is it worth pickin one up?