Thread: Barbers hone

Hello folks, I am new to this forum and need some advice. I am looking for a decent size hone. I currently have a old one that is very small and requires a few contortions. I saw this one listed on ebay and while i think its a good deal or at least not a terribly bad one, i would like to get your opinions.

the hone in question:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Large-size-blue-...QQcmdZViewItem


Thanks in advance.

Jim Ellis

Jim, it looks like a nice hone and 6" x 2" is a great size. The thickness of this hone makes it a finger-slicer. To me the thickness is important and if you build a little box for it or otherwise give yourself a little more to hold when honing, you'll reduce the chance of drawing blood, in my opinion. I know I have to be really, really careful with the thin hones, myself. I've got one small section of my thumb that likes to catch a blade when I'm using a thin hone.

You really can't go wrong with anything by Tilly, and that's a good size for a hone. You need to determine what your needs are, though, before you buy anything. Do you need a roughing hone, a finishing hone, or something in between? If you know what you want, Tilly's probably got it, and her service is among the best I've ever experienced. You can't go wrong buying from her. To add to what PapaBull said, I take my thin or smaller hones, and use some of that sticky shelf stuff. I put the hone on top of something larger, to raise it off the table some, making it easier to work. Usually what I use is my DMT hone box, which is wood, and about 2 1/2" tall.

Thank you for the information. I need a decent finishing hone. The one i currently use is 3 1/2 long by 2 wide and very thin as well and i do have to be deuced careful not to lope off a thumb with it. Its hard for me to tell from the pictures if it is a finishing hone or not. It does look like one to me but then i am a novice of hones. I currently have norton water stones one is 220/1000 (i haven't had to use it yet) and the other is 4000/8000 and thats the one i use and then my little bitty finishing hone that i had picked up at a flea market years ago.

Jim

I purchased the hone (Premier) mentioned from Tilly on Ebay, and, to my novice eye, it looks like a good hone. Not having seen other hones, I am assuming that it is a very fine grit, finishing hone. Does anyone know if this is correct?

Originally Posted by rgsccr

I purchased the hone (Premier) mentioned from Tilly on Ebay, and, to my novice eye, it looks like a good hone. Not having seen other hones, I am assuming that it is a very fine grit, finishing hone. Does anyone know if this is correct?

I've got a Premier, as well. It's very fine. I really haven't used mine, opting instead for the Norton/coticule/pasted strop, but I did lap it, and it's smooth as glass. Should be a great finishing hone.