Using a Standard barber hone

I got this Standard barber hone, needs some lapping before I use it, but my question is are these meant to be used dry, or with water, or light oil, or just experimentation to see what works best?

Standard shaving lather works best for me.

I knew barbers who used them dry or with lather. I've used them with water and dry. Some brands allowed thin oil and others didn't. I don't know for sure about that particular brand. Water, lather or dry is always safe.

I'd say see what works best.

When I was using barber hones, I usually used water with a little soap. Just water usually beads, so the soap counteracts that. Lather does the same, and won't run off the hone, but I found lather too much of a mess/hassle because I didn't usually use my barber hone right before/after shaving (so there was no lather around). Oil may work, and the hone should be hard and non-porous, so you shouldn't have to worry about it soaking it.

Ive used barber hones for years, if you just want the quick touch up go ahead and use it dry 3-6 roundtrips is the norm. If you wish to use a liquid to suspend metal particulate while doing something a little more intense I would use a lather. I hope this helps.

+1 on water and a little lather..works great

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Water, lather or dry is always safe.

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+1 on that

I use water.