Thread: Not sure how to use a Swaty

I bought a swaty off of Ronnie Brown from the classifieds and I don't know exactly how to prepare it for use. Do I have to soak it for a period of time or can I just wet the surface and go to town? Also, going from a Norton 8k how many laps should I make? I don't want to under do it but I sure don't want to over do it. Thanks in advance for your replies and what's sure to be invaluable advice.

David

You dont soak barber hones.
you can use water ,leather, or oil in general.
just adding it.
on your swaty most likely dry,water or leather will be fine. gl

I'm a coticule user but am considering a Barber's hone - so I would also be interested in hearing how people use them. On my coticule (which is on the smallish side) it takes a good 50 laps to refresh a slightly dulled edge - but I hear you only need 3 or 4 laps on one of these - is that for real?

Yes. they are very fast hones.

I use water or lather. I find lather makes it a bit easier to use for some reason.

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

I'm a coticule user but am considering a Barber's hone - so I would also be interested in hearing how people use them. On my coticule (which is on the smallish side) it takes a good 50 laps to refresh a slightly dulled edge - but I hear you only need 3 or 4 laps on one of these - is that for real?

How exactly do you feel that the lather makes it easier to use? What's the difference in your opinion between water and lather?

I like the lather on my carborundum. You can feel a little bit of suction with the lather, and I think it helps to keep the bevel flat on the hone. It may be a figment of my imagination, but it seems real enough.

Just like the lather, a drop of soap on the hone will have a similar effect. I would imagine it has to affect the surface tension on the water, but I don't have all the details

Here are the instructions that came with one of mine. I have used mine with water in the past but when I do use it now I use it dry, as the barber who gave it to me also used it. Try it with different media and you will find what you feel works best for you.

Originally Posted by bulldog

How exactly do you feel that the lather makes it easier to use? What's the difference in your opinion between water and lather?

The soap acts as a 'wetting agent' in non scientific terms it makes the water 'wetter'. As said, it reduces the surface tension.
Those of us who used to develop our own film negatives will remember using a 'wetting agent'.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

The soap acts as a 'wetting agent' in non scientific terms it makes the water 'wetter'. As said, it reduces the surface tension.
Those of us who used to develop our own film negatives will remember using a 'wetting agent'.

I still develop film. I have a jug of photo-flo 600 about 20' away from me as I type this.