Vintage hone

[Shave_Rat]

I have found a vintage hone, looks like the pics I find of vintage barber hones, a dark clay like reddish brown color, name on it is like "Scott's", but google doesn't bring up anything about hones from that company. It's in decent shape, not perfect, but not totally trashed, either.

Couple easy questions, what, if anything, would need to be done to make it usable? Second, are they usually used with oil, or water, or just dry?

 

[jrp316]

If it came with a box, directions are usually on it. Most barber hones can be used either wet or dry, but I usually use them wet with a dollop of lather. As far as making it usable, just make sure it's flat; lap it if you need to.

 

[Mike H]

Barber hones are very hard (usually) and a pain to flatten. When it arrives, mark it up with a pencil and give it a few laps on some fine wet/dry paper to see how flat it is. If it is good to go, then use a bit of soap and a few light strokes.

 

[Shave_Rat]

It's not new, it's the hone my great grandfather and probably my great uncle both used for their straight razors back in the day. It was found in a storage box next to the box that had the actual razors, as well as several heirloom DE's, and one SE.

What would you lap a hone with?

 

[Mike H]

It's not new, it's the hone my great grandfather and probably my great uncle both used for their straight razors back in the day. It was found in a storage box next to the box that had the actual razors, as well as several heirloom DE's, and one SE.

What would you lap a hone with?

Wet/Dry sandpaper, use it wet, start with 600, but if it is really bad, may need to drop down to 320, then progress back up.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I'll need to find some solid perfectly flat object to use for a sanding/lapping block then.

 

[Krodor]

I'll need to find some solid perfectly flat object to use for a sanding/lapping block then.

Found me a little piece of polished marble tile 8x3" for about a buck fifty at lowes last weekend.

 

[Gamma]

If it's flat - don't lap it. They're not thick to begin with - most are reasonably flat.
If it's way out of whack - then sure, gotta lap it.

You can clean them up with all kinds of scrubbie things and/or toothbrushes.
A little sandpaper can help. Might want to condition the piece afterwards - I rub mineral oil onto them let it soak and then wipe off and let dry on its own.

 

[Shave_Rat]

If it's flat - don't lap it. They're not thick to begin with - most are reasonably flat.
If it's way out of whack - then sure, gotta lap it.

You can clean them up with all kinds of scrubbie things and/or toothbrushes.
A little sandpaper can help. Might want to condition the piece afterwards - I rub mineral oil onto them let it soak and then wipe off and let dry on its own.

The one side looks totally flat and feels smooth to the eye and touch. I won't worry about lapping on it, then. I'll give it a good scrub and wash, and go from there.

 

[Gamma]

Cool.