Why would i need a barbers hone?

[mountaindon]

I have seen a lot of discussion about barber hones and Finishing stones,etc

My problem in understanding comes when grit is discussed as it sounds like a lot of barber hones are around 6k in grit.

So what i understand form what i have read, you would use a barber hone to refresh an edge that was getting a little dull or to keep it from getting dull.

But if i hone it on a norton 8k and then crox on a balsa paddle....... why would i go back to something corser to keep the edge? Why wouldnt i just use my 8k stone to spruce it up - run a few strokes on the CRox, then strop it?

I am really not getting the barber hone thing.

If i could get a good hard stone in the 10 - 12 k range...... i would understand that

Inquiring mind wants to know

Don

 

[SliceOfLife]

You wouldn't want/need a Barbers hone that is coarser than your 8k stone. Good barber hones are quite a bit finer than a Norton 8k though.

 

[azmark]

You wouldn't want/need a Barbers hone that is coarser than your 8k stone. Good barber hones are quite a bit finer than a Norton 8k though.

+1

It's the tough part in finding good barber hones because a lot coming from auction sites have no knowing characteristics so it can be a crap shoot. IMO buy one from someone on the forum who can say they've used it or knows what barbers hone it is.

 

[Chimensch]

If you have a Norton 4K/8K you don't need a barbers hone because the 8K side is adequate to shave with, especially if followed by a pasted strop. The advantage of a barbers hone is that it is easier to use. It's small enough to fit in your hand, doesn't need to be soaked or lapped and is narrow enough to make it easier to hone warped, smiling blades. A barber hone also costs less but a Norton 4K/8K is more versatile.

 

[sanfranciscian]

I do have a barber hone that seems to be much finer than a 6k, and has the added advantage of being two sided so i can go a little coarser if needed. after i bought my naniwa set i was also wondering what was the use in keeping it around. Then i was packing up the shave kit for some travelling and it became apparent. on a side note those cell phone sleeves work well for just that purpose.

Ian

 

[SliceOfLife]

I do have a barber hone that seems to be much finer than a 6k, and has the added advantage of being two sided so i can go a little coarser if needed. after i bought my naniwa set i was also wondering what was the use in keeping it around. Then i was packing up the shave kit for some travelling and it became apparent. on a side note those cell phone sleeves work well for just that purpose.

Ian

If you bought a Naniwa set the only reason I can see to keep the Barber hone was if you prefered to do touchups with the stone in your hand (I know Chimensch prefers that method of honing). I have yet to encounter a Barber hone finer than a Naniwa 10k, much less a 12k. Even the Naniwa 8k would give most barber hones a run for their money. (It's using a finer rating system than Nortons use).

 

[sanfranciscian]

If you bought a Naniwa set the only reason I can see to keep the Barber hone was if you prefered to do touchups with the stone in your hand (I know Chimensch prefers that method of honing). I have yet to encounter a Barber hone finer than a Naniwa 10k, much less a 12k. Even the Naniwa 8k would give most barber hones a run for their money. (It's using a finer rating system than Nortons use).

Agreed, fortunately (or not) i have not acquired enough product yet to need a shave kit for travel large enough to accommodate a nani 12k. But i am working hard towards it.

Ian

 

[Arrow]

I keep my Barber's hone on my shave shelf in the bathroom so that it's close at hand if one of my straights needs a touch-up. It's nice and small and takes up very little space on my cramped little shelf. This way I don't have to hunt up that big ole 4k/8k and soak it to do a touch-up.

 

[FiveOhNine]

I have a small group of barber hones, all of which are rated (by folks with much more practical experience than myself) north of 12k. I haven't done any direct comparisons between these and other stones, but they are nice and 'portable' if you feel like keeping one in every bathroom of your house

 

[wdwrx]

As an aside... i was inspired by another thread to try dulling a blade on glass, raising a slurry on my barber's hone, and I was able to bring an edge back to shaving sharp (though I didn't do but a quick dry test shave on my cheek) in less than ten minutes, so i think these little buggers might be capable of more than we give 'em credit for.
It was a double sided hone though, so it had a corse side.

 

[natchez]

I had a few barbers hones and have either sold or given away all but one, a 3-line Swaty, which seems well more than 6K. I really do not use barbers hones much anymore.

As noted above, barbers hones are useful, cut quite quickly, easily portable and not too expensive. They also, in my experience, chip rather easily and are somewhat fragile. Also as advised above, you surely do not need one. It is all about wants, not needs

An relatively inexpensive alternative for touch-ups is a small coticule bout. This would be versatile and less costly than a small Thurugian or an Escher. Although the latter two in the 1" x 5" configurations are truly excellent for touch-ups. Superior Shave offers a size 8 coticule bout at $40 in standard grade, which is comparable in price to a good barbers hone.

Another alternative to consider is the smaller Chinese 12K from Woodcraft at $20. Fine stone and also really good for touch ups.

Both of these alternatives, IMHO, offer a bit more bang for the buck than a barbers hone. Hope this helps.

 

[Will P.C.]

I do not care for barber hones. A good one is going to cost around 50 dollars. At that point, you can buy a Naniwa 12k for 72. Later down the road when you get a few more razors and take up honing, you can buy the rest of the Naniwa set.

 

[Drybonz]

As an aside... i was inspired by another thread to try dulling a blade on glass, raising a slurry on my barber's hone, and I was able to bring an edge back to shaving sharp (though I didn't do but a quick dry test shave on my cheek) in less than ten minutes, so i think these little buggers might be capable of more than we give 'em credit for.
It was a double sided hone though, so it had a corse side.

Just curious as to whether the hone you used in this test is the one you sent out on the BST?

 

[wdwrx]

Just curious as to whether the hone you used in this test is the one you sent out on the BST?

Yep. She's a good little stone. I was truly amazed at how quickly it brought an edge back.
I had to think long and hard about selling it because I always imagined keeping it around and using it for travel.... except if I had to travel for the job I have now, I'd just quit. Those days are long behind me.

 

[Drybonz]

Yep. She's a good little stone. I was truly amazed at how quickly it brought an edge back.