Thread: Can I use a Swaty to hone?

Hi everyone.

I'm not a very experienced honer but I do have a Swaty that I have been using to touch up professionally honed razors with great results. I recently was at an antique store and picked up a Wade & Butcher and a Boker.

My question is since the Swaty is rated about 8k to 10k, is there any reason I can't use the Swaty to hone these razors after setting bevels?

Along the way I have also picked up a Chinese 12k waterstone and have red and black Dovo paste and chromium oxide as well as 1micron and .5 micron diamond paste.

Any suggestions on how to proceed? Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Charlie

Greetings!

Can you? Yes. But my question is are you jumping from bevel set to the Swaty? I'm not sayin you have to, but when I hone I go from 1k->4k->8k . If you have something in between there, that should help. I just think you might get a better/smoother edge if you progress from a lower grit to your Swaty.

Good luck,
JackofDiamonds

Hi.

Yes, I do have a stone around the 4k range. Would you do a pyramid? How would you finish? Chinese stone? Which paste, etc. The razors are not in bad condition.

Thanks for your help.

Charlie

I usually do a pyramid. After the 8k I would use your Swaty and see how it shaves. If you are not pleased see what a few laps on the 12k does. I have never used pastes so I can't comment on that aspect, but I am sure someone will have some input.

JackofDiamonds

A Swaty would typically be used somewhere after an 8k range stone. I mean, the Swaty is abrasive and it does remove metal, so you could, say, set a bevel on it, but it might take you a few years.