Thread: What type of lubrication on hone?

What type of lubrication to you use on your hones? The Greg Ives video suggests that you should use a little soap/cream on the hone. I know some use water as well and perhaps oil of some kind? I have a few questions.

1. Any opinion as to which is better, water, cream, oil?

2. Anyone ever use the can foam to lubricate a hone?

3. Would using can stuff harm the hone at all? (I have a few cans of foam left that I no longer use and wondered if it would be ok to use on the hones.)

Thanks!

What about olive oil? Would that hurt the hone or the blade?

I think it depends on the hone. Art, I would stay away from olive oil. The Norton is used with water, but the hand held barbers hones seem to be usable with lather or water. I'm not an expert, and don't have any idea what type of oil you would use on a hone. The barber's hones I have suggest either water or use dry. One of the more experienced guys will chime in on this, or check with Tilly at www.redtrader99.com. She offers some great hones, or check with Tony Miller. And don't forget the master honemeister himself, Lynn (I believe that's his name! )

RT

water for waterstones,like thew japanese,Norton,Shapton,King they are porous
oil for oil stones like the Arkansas stones
water or shaving LATHER for classic barber hones
water, lather or oil for Belgian stones

Those are the general rules of thumb.

Hope this helps,

Originally Posted by randydance062449

water for waterstones,like thew japanese,Norton,Shapton,King they are porous
oil for oil stones like the Arkansas stones
water or shaving LATHER for classic barber hones
water, lather or oil for Belgian stones

Those are the general rules of thumb.

Hope this helps,

Do you think the Lather from the can is ok for this or is that not good for the hone, as they contain chemicals or non-natural stuff?

I've used it but I wet the hone down with water, the lather can get dry quickly.

I put a couple drops of dish washing liquid per cup of water when using water hones.

For Arkansas/Oil stones I use a very light oil for hair clippers. It's available anywhere that the clippers are and mine happens to be WAHL brand (got it at sears if memory serves me correctly).

I have used 10w40 on Aluminum Oxide and India hones, But thats more for garden tools and not really applicable here.

Dont use any oil that will partially evaporate and/or leave a residue or an organic oil that will spoil, taint or sour (like Olive oil, and lard will).

I have used canned shave cream before. Now that I use the mug and brush I have too use the cream for something. I also like too use liquid hand soap. I use only classic barber hones with water first then lather.

Glen

Thanks for the help. I probably will just use some lather from my mug and water on the barber hones.

One of the keys (I think) to honing is that sucking sensation you get from the hone as the blade gets sharp. Don't let a thick lather or a drying lather give you a false sense of accomplishment. Use a watery lather to raise the grit level and improve your honing, not become a crutch.