Big Stones, Little Stones ???

I am curious as to what people prefer when choosing sizes for hones. Most barber hones are about 2" x 4", a few are 5" long and to me they seem a handy size for, well, your hand <g> I doubt anyone is doing extensive sharpening on them, more constant maintenance instead so the small size would not be a big issue.

I know for the Norton the "rules" say you have to buy the 3" x 8" version. It's a great size for extensive honing and marathon sessions with it sitting on a table top but for hand held use, where I think one gets the best feedback I have heard some feel it is too heavy. (me included)

So, for general tuning up and sharpening of your razors, and not restoring a beat eBay special, establishing an edge or nick removal what sizes do you feel offer the best results, surface areas vs. handiness ??

Tony

My answer is the 3" Norton. But.. I beleive its all in what you get used to.
Each of the hones has its own "personality" and place in the honing hierarchy.

Just my two cents,

Hey Tony,
I have the big Norton 4k/8k combo, as well as several barber hones.
When I'm sitting down for a hone-a-thon, the Norton is there, soaked and ready to go. I may have an eBay special prepared to go on the hone for one of these sessions, or maybe just a few of my regular shavers ready for a touch up. I like the Norton because it's quick and efficient. When I have the Norton out, I set it on my plastic cutting board with the little trough around the edge. Keeps me from dripping water all over the place and provides a nice, stable base to set it on. I keep the hone & board on the table in front of me.
The barber hones are ready when i have maybe 1 or 2 razors needing a quick honing to get them back up to speed. Most of mine are Swaty or similar clones. I typically use them dry, but will use them with water or lather sometimes. Not as much set-up as the Norton, and I hold the barber hone in my left hand while manipulating/moving the razor with the other hand.
IMHO, good results can be obtained with either type of hone, with a razor that's in good repair. (Of course I'm talking regular maintenance here, and I'm excluding restoration projects.)

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Originally Posted by Tony Miller

So, for general tuning up and sharpening of your razors, and not restoring a beat eBay special, establishing an edge or nick removal what sizes do you feel offer the best results, surface areas vs. handiness ??

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While I use, and like, both styles of hones, I do find myself going to the barber hones more frequently for tune ups. These are what generations of shaving gentlemen, and barbers, too, I suppose, used to maintain their razors.
My most frequently used hone is a small Swaty-sized barber hone called a Master Barber. It is double sided, one side gray, like a carborundum, and the other side ruddy brown, like a Swaty, but a bit smoother. I keep it in the bathroom where I shave, and it's great for a quick touch-up when needed.

I guess I haven't really answered the specific question of "the best results, surface areas vs. handiness". I think it's a matter of personal preference, and the results that each guy can get with his particular set-up. I agree with Randy's comments on hone "personality" and its place in the honing heirarchy. Well stated. :)

Parry

Thanks guy. Maybe I asked my question poorly. I ws not after so much which stones you like best (great topic for another thread) but more what SIZE stones seem most handy to use.

For example, if the 4K/8K Norton were also available in barber hone size 2" x 5" would you find yourseld using it more than the larger 3" x 8" one? If your favorite Swaty, or Lithide, etc..... were available as a 3" x 8" would that make it more useful?

OR, do both sizes compliment each other and you would choose to own the same brand of stone in both the large and small sizes or would you avoide one size if you had a choice between them?

I have found that for me the size makes a difference as to how frequently I would use it. If I had a 2" x 4" 8K Norton I would grab it much more often than I do my 3" x 8".

Tony

I think you summed it up pretty well. I prefer barber hones because I can hold them and the Norton is nice. I have been working with that Col. Conk hone, the cheap one for $15. Now that I know how to hone I'm trying to understand it better. It is very thin and long and I am finding the very thin and long design to be really great for honing. It allows you to swipe the blade long and broad. Now if it were only 1200 grit like everybody thinks it would really be cool for fixing up a blade. As is its working really, really slow.

Alan,
I agree that the narrowness of some stones just seems to work. Doing the X pattern seems more natural to me that running the razor directly down the wide stones (even with them at an angle). Maybe ot is becuase most knife stones were always skinny and I just got used to t <g>.

Tony

Tony,

My absolute #1 go to hone is the Carborundum #103, it fits inside the palm of my hand and puts a glass smooth edge on a blade quickly.

I think its a combination of what task you are performing on the blade and what you are comfortable with. I have an assortment of small barbers hones that I rarely use. I find the usual norton or belgians in the larger sizes are what I keep going to. I find the larger stones sit flat on the table and to me seem easier to use than the small barbers. Of course I started with the larger stones. If I had started with the small ones I'd probably prefer those.

Now that I understand your question better I guess that I will have to say...ask me in another year. Maybe by then I will have another Norton that I can cut down to a smaller size. What I really like is the fast cutting of the Norton. The size is bulky but I have learned how to use that hone the best..so far. I hope to be using the two mint Belgian hones that I have during this coming year and a few more of the barber hones. There are advantages to the different sizes depending upon your use. Some of my long, narrow hones are good for very worn blades. I would really like a 1" x 4" Norton.

LOL....what you call bulky Randy, is what I love about the Norton. The 3 inch helps keep the blade flat using the X pattern and the size allows me to work on a table which is the most stable environment for me. If I put a Barber Hone on a table, it is virtually unusable. If I use it on the hand or thigh, it's unstable. If I use a 2 inch stone for the X pattern, there is more a chance of the blade not being flat thoughout the entire stoke. Tis the same reason I got the Coticule in the 3 inch and if I use pastes, I use them on Keith's flatbed hones. Lynn

The size and messiness of using a Norton Caused me to relegate it to serious honing sessions. For a single razor touchup, I like to grab a barber hone or a pasted strop.

But I don't just think in terms of size. It's more convenience. So, to avoid the inconvenience of the Norton 4/8, I'll often go to a ceramic hone. I still like the Norton and larger hones best for serius honing and groups of razors.

I am of the opinion that the large Norton is a trifle on the cumbersome side for razors.



I think (and this is just my own opinion) that a 6”X2” hone would be ideal for just about any razor work that I’m likely to be doing (finish work as well as aggressive honing).

The 6” length would leave plenty of room for larger blades (6/8’s and up), but still be short enough to keep the stroke pattern limited and consistent. I prefer to have the blade over-hang the hone just a smidge with any sharpening I do. For some reason it helps me keep the blade level and the pressure consistent. So the 2” width would be preferred over the 3”.



I think the 4” barber hones would be good for the average razor (average being 5/8’s), but might be a little short for the larger blades. A 7/8 or 8/8 blade would only use 3” of hone surface since the wide blade would start 1” from the starting edge. A 5” hone would be better if you have 6/8-7/8 razors but 6” would be just right for all blades IMO.



As I’ve said in the other thread similar to this one, I only use half of my Norton at any given time. I have half a mind to actually cut down the big 8” hone to a 6” and use the 2” end piece as a pocket/pack hone for my skinners. I just cant bring my self to cut a $60 hone yet.

Thanks guys. Your fedback is helpful as I plan to add some stones or hones to my products for next year and only want to stock the most useful sizes.

Pretty much set that 3x8 and 2x6 will be the standards I keep on hand and maybe a few odd barber hones for those that like them. I realize there are many suppliers with stones but it is nice to e able to order a few items at once instead of visitin 3 suppliers in order to buy three items.

Tony

Tony, if your going to start selling hones please be sure to let the buyer know that they need to round over (soften)the edges of the hone. This will reduce the possibility of nicks when using the X pattern.
(ask me how I know this!:))

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Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Thanks guys. Your fedback is helpful as I plan to add some stones or hones to my products for next year and only want to stock the most useful sizes.

Pretty much set that 3x8 and 2x6 will be the standards I keep on hand and maybe a few odd barber hones for those that like them. I realize there are many suppliers with stones but it is nice to e able to order a few items at once instead of visitin 3 suppliers in order to buy three items.

Tony

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