Thread: How many classic barber hones do you have?

I enjoy using and collecting classic barber hones. What are your favorites?

dubl duck two-sided ..... a double grit barbers' hone, gray side is coarseer, red side for finishing and touch-up

Good to know you like those Dubl Duck combos? I've got a mint one coming in the mail. It's sold as a "dry" hone, do you use yours dry?

Hal

Originally Posted by halwilson

Good to know you like those Dubl Duck combos? I've got a mint one coming in the mail. It's sold as a "dry" hone, do you use yours dry?

Hal

Any of these fired clay barber's hones you can use dry, wet with water, wet with shave cream, or <gasp> even wet with oil. They're non-porous. You just have to watch for a buildup of glaze, particulaly when you use them dry. Glaze will cause the blade to "float" on top of the buildup of honed metal on the stone and the cutting action of the abrasive surface beneath will be interrupted. A toothbrush and powdered kitchen cleanser will remove the glaze in a few seconds. (If you're blond, that means you have to scub the wet cleanser onto the stone with the toothbrush.)

Dave, I use most of my hones dry at least when starting out, then step-up in sequence using slurry, water and lather if needed. These days, I've been experimenting with dry honing, and have got good results. However, I have found that the Honemaster and Amalgamite offer a coarser grit result when used wet than when used dry, which is unusual. Using these hones, I usr water first followed by dry honing to finish. I use a scotch brite pad to remove the residue/glaze. Works great.

The Dubl Duck is specifically intended to be used dry, although you surely can use it with all types of media. I intend to use it dry, as I do most of my hones these days.

Hal

Originally Posted by halwilson

Dave, I use most of my hones dry at least when starting out, then step-up in sequence using slurry, water and lather if needed. These days, I've been experimenting with dry honing, and have got good results. However, I have found that the Honemaster and Amalgamite offer a coarser grit result when used wet than when used dry, which is unusual. Using these hones, I usr water first followed by dry honing to finish. I use a scotch brite pad to remove the residue/glaze. Works great.

The Dubl Duck is specifically intended to be used dry, although you surely can use it with all types of media. I intend to use it dry, as I do most of my hones these days.

Hal

I have several dubl duck two-grit hones in their original boxes, but only one has the original instruction sheet and that says they can be used dry, or with lather. I use mine dry, also.

One technical point, too. There is no "slurry" as we know it in waterstones, with these molded barbers hones. The gunk that floats around when the stones are wet is just metal filings, and not the fine bits of abrasive like are in the waterstone slurry. The abrasive will wear with use, but is meant to stay in the stone.

I have a ton of these, but really only use them for fun and experimentation. I have always found the Norton to be the quickest and most consistent hone out there although I am having really good luck these days finishing on the Belgium Coticule stone. Most times I don't even need to go to any pastes. Lynn

Those Nortons are fast and consistent to be sure; I really like the Belgian Coticule I got from Howard too. Good to know you have fun experimenting with classic barber hones; they are fun to use and there is lots of room for experimentation because of the wide variety still available. Barber hones do not cut as quickly, but I enjoy taking my time. With two good quality classic barber hones, say an Amalgamite and a Honemaster, one can get equally good consistent results as those who use either Nortons or Belgians. It's just a different number of strokes for different folks Hal

One technical point, too. There is no "slurry" as we know it in waterstones, with these molded barbers hones. The gunk that floats around when the stones are wet is just metal filings, and not the fine bits of abrasive like are in the waterstone slurry. The abrasive will wear with use, but is meant to stay in the stone.

Well it is not the same stuff as the "slurry" of a Belgian, but it is a lot more than "just metal filings" The hones cut faster when it is present. I don't know what you want to call the dark brown gunk; slurry seems precise enough a word to me. ink: Hal

Sounds worth the effort to send a sample to the CSI:Miami lab for an analysis .....