Thread: Tam O'Shanter vs. Swaty

If I already have a little Tam O'Shanter stone (1" x 5") would a Swaty add anything?

The forums seem to suggest that both of them will take you to a good enough edge to strop and shave with.

I'm wondering if Swaty (please let's not get into the HUGE variations between different Swatys here)
would get me a better edge than the Tam can do.

I'm still so nw to this that I can't get a good shave off anything right now, even the Norton 8k followed by linen/leather strop, with cigar ash on the linen.

Also does the HHT test refer to a thin head hair? I can pass with a thicker chest hair but not with a head hair.

Thanks, cheers lads,

Again.

I have never tried shaving off of my Tam. I use mine with slurry which does not make for a shave ready edge. It's a fairly fine grit stone but I do not consider it a polishing stone.

Regarding the Swaty (and there is a difference between Swaty "models"). If I had loads of extra time, I had thought about using my 3 line or my "Perfect" brand hone both of which are fine as a polishing stone. I have never done this though. All barber hones I've seen firmly state only 5-6 laps. What would happen if someone did 50 laps on a 3 line with water (and please don't get into the differences between a "3 line Swaty" and a Swaty with three lines of text )?

Has anyone used a Swaty as a traditional polishing stone (numerous laps)? If so, what happens?

Regarding the HHT: If find that an edge that can pass a coarse hair HHT but can't pass a fine hair HHT is not sharp enough for me. YMMV. I have very fine head hair and my standard for a test shave edge is having the edge pass my fine hair HHT along the edge.

Chris L

I use a Swaty to keep my edges touched up. Works fine. I've never used the Tam.

HHT isn't all that reliable for me. A lot depends on the hair you're using. I think the TPT is more consistent. Some members report good results (shaving and purchase-wise ) by volunteering to brush the wife's hair for her...

Chris L: I've used the Swatys, 2 and 3 line (and other barber hones like the Apart), as a normal 9-12k finisher and they work fine for me. I still use plain newspaper as the final step. They work well enough that I haven't used the Chinese 12k or the Spyderco UF in months.

Before I had the arsenal of hones I now have I used Swaty with water as a finisher following the Norton 4/8. I did multiple laps and it did improve the edge. If you already have a Swaty and it is flat give it a try.

I wouldn't go out and buy a Swaty unless I could pick it up for less then the Chinese 12K. I've never had one but you can get one of those Chinese 12K that everybody seems to hold in high regard for $30 or so.

I have a Tam and I have used it following a Dalmore Blue both with and without slurry. Finished with an Escher blue/green. I got good results with that too. If your Tam didn't come with a slurry stone you can use one of those fine pocket DMT plates. They are cheap and work fine for creating slurry and sharpening your pocket knife.

Great stuff.

I have a chinee 12k in the post from Poland, at least they said it was in the post, I'm still waiting.

I wanted the Swaty as a travelling stone really, so I only need one.

I didn't want to put the Tam and the chinese 12k in my backpack, too much to lose or break, they will stay on the special shaving shelf that will be built in my new bathroom, or maybe an airtight, condensation-proof shaving drawer, depends just how obsessive I get.

Would the chinese 12k do as a one and only touch up hone, like a modern day equivalent of the barbers hone? If so maybe I will get a second one if the first one works well enough.

I'm liking the sound of finishing on newspaper too, anything that good and basically free is right up my street.

Right now I'm playing around with cigar ash on the linen strop after the Norton8k or the Tam, but my skills aren't up to making that jump just yet. I'm still getting microchipping that i can see with the eye, maybe over-honing, the ashed linen will put on a wire edge if over used too.

So many variables, maybe another hone is not what I need.

Still why stop at the essentials?

Great stuff.

I have a chinee 12k in the post from Poland, at least they said it was in the post, I'm still waiting.

I wanted the Swaty as a travelling stone really, so I only need one.

I didn't want to put the Tam and the chinese 12k in my backpack, too much to lose or break, they will stay on the special shaving shelf that will be built in my new bathroom, or maybe an airtight, condensation-proof shaving drawer, depends just how obsessive I get.

That sounds like a perfect use for a barber hone. They are much lighter and smaller than some of the larger stones.

Would the chinese 12k do as a one and only touch up hone, like a modern day equivalent of the barbers hone? If so maybe I will get a second one if the first one works well enough.

Yes they would serve the same purpose. I also think that the Chinese 12K is available in a smaller and thinner size (maybe 8X2) which would probably work a lot better for traveling than the monster 8X3

I'm liking the sound of finishing on newspaper too, anything that good and basically free is right up my street.

Right now I'm playing around with cigar ash on the linen strop after the Norton8k or the Tam, but my skills aren't up to making that jump just yet. I'm still getting microchipping that i can see with the eye, maybe over-honing, the ashed linen will put on a wire edge if over used too.

So many variables, maybe another hone is not what I need.

Still why stop at the essentials?

Another great option to look into would be a quality 6X2 Belgian Coticule. You can get them from Howard at theperfectedge.com. They cut quick enough to keep a razor going forever and are fine enough to leave an edge that is tough to beat with any honing media.

Have Fun!