Thread: Keen Kutter Barber hone questions

So, I just bought my first hone: a Keen Kutter No. K15 barber hone, and it's on its way now. I have a few questions, though.

I saw someone here recently mention lapping his Swaty, and wondered will I probably need to lap my hone? Even if it's not glazed, will I?

For touch ups, how often should these be done, and how often should full honing be done with that touch-up frequency?

For a brand new razor, can I get it shave ready with this, or will it take waaaay to long?

Also, kinda unrelated, will a 4K Norton set a bevel? I'm thinking about expanding my hone line later on, and wondered about that. Lynn never mentioned setting a bevel in his video.

Thanks for all your help, guys.
Dan

Most barber hones need lapping, IME. More of a flatness issue than glazing.

Touch ups can be anywhere from 30 to 90 shaves or more. Depends on the razor and other variables. Once honed to sharpness, a fine barber hone can keep it that way for years.

If the brand new razor is not really shave-ready, it will likely take too long on a finer barber hone. I'm not sure how fine the Keen Kutter K15 is.

4k will set a bevel. A 1k is a lot faster, but some factory new razors are pretty close. 4k can be better from a new honers' viewpoint as it gives you more time to learn and refine your honing stroke at first. Downside: it takes longer to see the result.

Check out the honing faqs and wiki for details on using a marker to see how your stroke is working the edge.

There is no shaving count to determine when to do a touch up. As soon as you notice the razor is not shaving like it used to, that is the time to do a touch up on a razor hone. That will insure that you have an optimal edge, optimal shaves, and optimal life for your razor. More frequent minimal touch ups remove less metal than infrequent major re-honings. Just do a couple strokes on the hone, strop it, and shave. If the shave is improved, you're good to go again. If it is still not where you want it, touch it up again the next day. With a barber hone it's easy to sneak up on the touch up because it takes virtually no time at all to do those 2 to 5 strokes.

Originally Posted by Utopian

With a barber hone it's easy to sneak up on the touch up because it takes virtually no time at all to do those 2 to 5 strokes.

i agree everything above and +1 on stroke numbers.barber hones usually fast cutting hones. don't do more then 2-5 strokes.your edge will brake down.hope this helps

Thanks for the help guys. Everytime I have a question, this community pulls through for me! Love this place!

Barber's hones are awesome tools. I Would be lost without my Swaty 3-line. Don't over hone!

I say all new to me hones need lapped
it fixes both clogging/glazing and flatness
like I said in that thread, I thought the hone was junk due to insufficient lapping

I also say that the cutting speed of barber hones varies considerably
most are fine-ish and fast-ish
there are many exceptions and variations

ALL the instructions I've ever seen said 3-5 strokes, strop, shave.

I agree with Utopian that they are very nice to sneak up on the sharpness.

I NEVER got a razor sharp enough without diamond paste.
You might keep that in mind before you get discouraged.

I've been using barber hones to actually hone razors from the beginning

I go from 1500 to a barber hone and do one sided slices with the whole blade on the stone 20 strokes per side
when it pops hairs I start honing in the normal pattern
when the whole edge pops hairs I go to a fine/finish hone
Swaty for example
hone in normal fashion and you are done