Thread: Does anyone use a barber's hone like old barbers did?

I've found over time that, after "bopping" around trying all my razors, I tend to gravitate to about three. I have one that's a big 6/8 full-hollow; the other two are both 5/8 - one a spike the other a round. I'm most comfortable with these three. I have one I love that I bought for my son; I used it once, cleaned it up and stored it for him for when he gets older.

Not me. I don't think any barber ever texted pics of his new hone to his buddies...and I doubt any of them spent 45 minutes trying to take a picture that would highlight what he considered to be the unique and mysterious quality (makers mark) this hone seemed to exude, at the time of purchase.

I've been shaving with one razor, one strop, and one barber hone for about 4 years now. Honestly, to me, THIS is the true beauty of the straight razor.

Wow-AFDavis shows just how simple and straightforward this hobby can be for those who don't wish to obsess over all the minutiae of numerous stones and honing regimens. Still, I like playing with hones.

But as someone still learning honing's finer points, I remember being advised by one of the honemeisters on this board (I forget which one) to start learning on the finer end: i.e., with finishers, barber hones, and their ilk. It makes sense if you think about it. Learning to touch up a slightly rough bevel is fairly simple for learning the basic strokes; then you can progress to 4/8k pyramids on synthetics, then learn the more advanced bevel-setting stages.

Thus I started honing on a Swaty barber hone, touching up edges that needed some refinement. I find that a Swaty will work just as well dry, but many lather it beforehand. Following that up with about a few laps on CrOx linen, followed by 100 or so laps on colored newsprint, followed by about 30/50 on linen and latigo gives me very keen, smooth edges. There are many paths, all fun to explore!

Yup. The only 'honing' I do is with a barber's hone. I have kept my razors' edges shave ready for well over a year.

Originally Posted by Birnando

Just for the fun of it, I have dedicated 2 razors for use solely on a barber-hone.
This far, it is working out just fine.
I find the shaves off my barber hone to be very good to be honest, just with a good linen/leather stropping after say 6-8 laps when it start to go just a little.

Same here but just 1 razor that has only been touched up on a Swaty for the last 3 years still gives perfectly fine shaves..

I also have a razor that I use to test the Barbers Hones out to decide the type of finish they give, this razor started out with a chipped up dull edge and now after only using Barber's Hones on it over the last year or so, it is shaving again... Keep in mind though it has tested about 100 hones with maybe 10-20 laps per hone so it took 1000-2000 laps to get it shaving again. Not something I would want to do on purpose but it can be done..

As some have noted here, there is a difference between Shavers and Hobbyists, to many of us it is the journey that we like, not just the destination...

I still have around 40 barber hones and I play with them occasionally when one of my personal razors starts to fade. Still only using 4-6 laps followed by a linen and then leather stropping. As noted, they are really nice for travel. The key to me with the barber hones it to catch my razor right when it starts not to feel as sharp. If I wait a few days, I usually will touch up on a finishing stone with 10 no pressure X strokes.

Have fun.

Thanks Lynn, I have been trying to heed your warnings and your advice but sometimes I let my impulses get the best of me. I have been trying to stay away from the hones except when the razor pulls and wont hold an edge any longer. But if you say it's okay then I'll give it a shot (and I'll try to remember to tread lightly).

I used nothing but a hone for years... Then i found this site and now i use norton's, jnats, shaptons, thuringian, coticle... I think all of them sharpen well. I have found however that i prefer to take out the thuringian for touch ups.

I believe it would make sense to recommend frequent use of a barbers hone to newbies. They don't know what a sharp edge feels like, and with great edges frequently complain here that the razor is dull. At the least, psychologically it will help. We could tell them every few shaves, apply lather, and hone "just a little."

But, apart from newbies, your question is whether it is a good approach. I have all the hones anyone could want. And, on my own, I use the barbers hone just as you describe, after every 6 or 8 shaves. The blade is still shaving quite well. But, just a few strokes on the barbers hone, taking one minute maybe, and strop as usual, and I would never have to rehone on my professional hones. (I do, every few months, but I have no reason to do so!)

As a SR shaver, and a Barber, ya, I have a couple, and I do use them to touch up the edge. I have to admit though, I still like to use my Coticules more than the barber hones...I'm sure it's just the HAD that I'm infected with...