Thread: 500 girt stone

Hello all, a friend gave me a almost never used hone. He got in when he was in barber school way back in the late 60's. It has been said that barbes used them for a touch up. The only markings on the box are Deluxe No.500. From that I would guess 500 grit. It comes with a 'slurry' mini stone. Does this mean it's a waterstone? I don't think so but not sure.

If I use it I guess it will remove the edge faster.But something tells me that it should be sparingly and lightly. Thanks Nick

Hi Nick,
If it's a finishing hone, the 500 stands for the model, not the grit. 500 is BY FAR too coarse for a razor unless you're reestablishing the bevel on a damaged edge. Yes, the slurry will make it cut faster.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Hi Nick,
If it's a finishing hone, the 500 stands for the model, not the grit. 500 is BY FAR too coarse for a razor unless you're reestablishing the bevel on a damaged edge. Yes, the slurry will make it cut faster.

That's good to know about the grit. Should it be used after, lets say a number of shaves and stroppings? As a little edge up to the blade? Nick

First you need to establish an original shaving edge. Then it should be used after 5-15 shaves, as you notice pulling, tugging, general deterioration of shave comfort.

If what you have is a barber hone then it is not a waterstone, i.e. japanese waterstone. The extra little stone (rubbing stone) is not for making a slurry but rather to clean the barber hone of built up debris. Use the rubbing stone on the barber hone while the water is running. The other use for the rubbing stone is to refresh the surface of the hone. This will make the hone cut faster. Use the barber hone when your razor starts to pull when you shave.

Hope this helps,

Thanks for the correction Randy. I don't want to be misguiding local noobs with my relative ignorance with barber hones.