How to Clean and Lap a Barber Hone?

[fsturnz]

Hi, all.

I'm new to straights...on my 15th shave. I wanted to pick up something to maintain the edge. I have the balsa strop from whipped dog, and I use it once a week or so, but after some reading, I decided to get a barber hone to keep in the bathroom where I shave for quick touchups.

I picked up this Pike Krystolo barber hone recently. It's in pretty good shape, with some very minor chips on the edges. But before I touch my razor to it, I'd like to know what I need, and what the steps are to both clean and make sure the surface is smooth. Is this something in the Wiki that I may have missed, and if not, could someone walk me through it?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[JGKC9AYC]

I'm kind of a n00b myself. I know on my Naniwa ss1000 I use some 320grit Wet/Dry, wet it, put if on my marble slab from HD, go at it a few times & it's flat. If you want, get a marker & make a grid on the stone, then lap so you can see if you got any high/low spots.

 

[Brooksie967]

Get some 80 grit sand paper and use a flat surface. lots of guys use tiles around here, before I got my DMT's I used my ceramic stove top. LAP LAP LAP until completely flat. Use a grid drawn with a pencil on the hone and once it wears completely off, draw it on again. It should wear off evenly and at the same speed. Once you're there, move to 120, 240, 300 and up. I found my barbers hones work best around 1000 and after a few razors have been passed over them. These aren't meant to be used as a hone to bring a razor back from the depths of barber hell but it can be used as a travel touch up stone for sure.

 

[fsturnz]

Thanks, guys!

 

[Proinsias]

I'd give it a scrub with some dish soap and a scourer to clean up the surface a little and try it out, you may not need to lap it at all. They tend to be hard stones and pretty resistant to dishing.

 

[Brooksie967]

I'd give it a scrub with some dish soap and a scourer to clean up the surface a little and try it out, you may not need to lap it at all. They tend to be hard stones and pretty resistant to dishing.

Proinsias is correct, you may not need to lap. I should correct myself and say start with a grid drawn and your highest grit diamond plate/sand paper and see if it comes off in a completely even pattern. If not, judge how drastic the job will be and pick the grit of sandpaper accordingly. The more intensive the lapping required, the lower in grit you should go.

 

[Legion]

Bit of oven cleaner on a scotch pad will clean it up. Don't lap unless really necessary. They are really hard, and it is a PITA.