Thread: Cushion Hones

I just emailed Tilly. I bought a cushion hone, and although the site said the the leather wasn't attached, should it have been included? Also, the directions that came with mine said to use it dry.

Randy

Randy,
They come without leather. I ws going to make up some with leather if guys wanted them but was unsure how the wetting would affect it. I tried tonight with just wiping water on top with my fingers for a while and the back of the hone stayed very dry. If I can find a suitable felt tomorrow to go between leather and hone I will try that but I think maybe a natural leather directly on the hone and then dress that with 1.0 or 0.5 paste to refine the edge from the hone.

I also tried the frosted glass idea. And while it felt like a hone and sounded like a hone I saw zero results. Won't be wasting any time in that direction.

In a different direction I used Neat's Foot Oil as a strop dressing and while t gave a nice drag to the razor it does not apply as nicely as a creme type dressing.

Also found some nice looking pigskin with a nice texture I was going to try with pastes. I think someone mentioned pigskin in a different thread.

Tony

[QUOTE=Joe Lerch]I bought one of those and it works well with just a coating of water. It also works dry, but it's a lot faster, and you need to be careful with pressure./QUOTE]

Well said Joe,

I have two of these in the longer version (6.5 inches, considerably longer than most barber hones). They are among my favorite medium grit hones. They will work well dry, with water and with lather. The properties of this hone are such that, used skilfully with all three mediums, it alone could suffice for general maintenance. Highly recommended for anyone starting out.

I'd be most interested a refurbished Strop-Back, should Tony to offer them. I sure like the that deep red oiled leather he uses on the finishing side of his paddle strops.

What about using some balsa (the edges treated to stop water absorption)instead of felt between the leather and the hone? Would that offer enough of a cushion?

Hal

Hal,
Good suggestion but I do think the leather itself has more give than the balsa. I am beginning to think the secret of the balsa is in the open pores moe than it's give. I have used thick leather and thin leather on a hard surface for stropping yet balsa is different. I just think it holds the pastes differently.

I am going to make up some of the Cushion hones and will gladly offer substitutes in materials if they are wanted, ie..red finish leather, natural for paste, cushioned or not, etc....

Tony