Cleaning a barber hone

[jman158]

Hi all,

I just recent got hold of a Fraz Swaty hone. It is in great shape but probably has not been used in 30 years or so. Any ideas on how to clean it up a little?

Thanks!

 

[Disburden]

Use emery paper to refresh the surface to where it used to be. IF its in bad shape you may have to flatten it, which is annoying since swatys are very hard.

Old manuals say use emery paper, rough for the plain side and fine for the stamped logo side for refreshing.

Strop well after use and do not over hone with it, they are fast.
To test the edge run a razor through yiur wet thumbnail, it should smoothly cut along the razor into your nail. If not honed enough you will feel a rough edge in your nail. Over honed will break in your nail causing sticking and no slice through the nail.

Once you pass this test strop until you get good results in the thimb pad test.

 

[jman158]

Thanks Disburden, that is great info! What grit number or grade would you recommend?

 

[Disburden]

If you google emery paper just get fine and normal

 

[Legion]

Ajax on a wet cloth will clean any swarf and gunk off it. (is Ajax an international brand? Like an abrasive kitchen cleaner, for doing the metal sinks and counter tops.)

 

[Isaac]

Pretty much been covered above. I had to flatten a swaty once. ONCE!!! The thing damn near wore out my DMT plate. I do not envy the person that has to lap their swaty.

 

[Legion]

Pretty much been covered above. I had to flatten a swaty once. ONCE!!! The thing damn near wore out my DMT plate. I do not envy the person that has to lap their swaty.

I had to do a Aloxite (similar to a swaty) once to get rid of some deep scratching, more like gouges. It was a chore, but I used wet dry paper. It worked.

 

[Isaac]

I had to do a Aloxite (similar to a swaty) once to get rid of some deep scratching, more like gouges. It was a chore, but I used wet dry paper. It worked.

The funny thing is, after I was done, I packed it in a box to move to a house. When I arrived to the new location It dropped out of the box and chipped. My pristine 3 line swaty has a small chip in it.

 

[Legion]

The funny thing is, after I was done, I packed it in a box to move to a house. When I arrived to the new location It dropped out of the box and chipped. My pristine 3 line swaty has a small chip in it.

Better than me. I lapped mine, looked at it and said "there, that's better", and put it in a box with all my other unused razor stuff. "I must try that, one day" I tell myself.