What is with the dished hones?

**PDB** · 02-25-2012, 06:32 AM

I see a lot of old hones that are dished. Here is my question, were the users just sharpening in vain, or did they get a good edge on those stones? I think they could have been creating a good edge with a rounded bevel. I flatten my stones, but I just wonder sometimes.

**Goomer** · 02-25-2012, 06:35 AM

I would guess it's from sharpening knives and tools, etc.

**hig789** · 02-25-2012, 06:52 AM

Don't know either but someone sure loved this latest coticule I found. It was dished out like crazy.

**Goomer** · 02-25-2012, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by hig789

Don't know either but someone sure loved this latest coticule I found. It was dished out like crazy.

Can you lap the non-dished side and use that?

**PDB** · 02-25-2012, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by hig789

Don't know either but someone sure loved this latest coticule I found. It was dished out like crazy.

That's what I am talking about. Someone was probably using that to make a good edge. I suppose it could have been on a knife if the owner had quit using straight razors.

**Obiwan** · 02-25-2012, 07:18 AM

I think people didn't obsess over lapping the way we do. My barbers coticule is near through to the other side. If it's the only hone you use, you can get results with it.

**hig789** · 02-25-2012, 07:58 AM

I mated it to a piece of slate and lapped the dished side down. It ended up being about 4mm thick, enough for a lifetimes use.

**Brownbear** · 02-25-2012, 08:11 AM

I'd be interested to hear the results of someone using the dished side on a razor. I would think it would be equivalent to using a pasted strop in the slightly curved bevel but in a more controlled way. Can't see why it wouldn't create a usable edge and it might actually be better than a flat bevel, who knows? Before we go forcing these old stones to conform to diamond lapped perfection it would be interesting to see if the old timers knew something we don't.

**hig789** · 02-25-2012, 08:15 AM

I wouldn't think you would be able to get a fine enough edge with a convex(?) bevel. I could be wrong though, I would like to know for sure too.

**global_dev** · 02-25-2012, 09:00 AM

I thought that was a galaxy nexus phone

Originally Posted by hig789

Don't know either but someone sure loved this latest coticule I found. It was dished out like crazy.

**Obiwan** · 02-25-2012, 10:17 AM

I had a pretty dished one (not as bad as Matt's, but close). Prior to lapping I honed a razor on it and the edge was certainly shave worthy. I've produced better edges for sure, but they do work.

**hig789** · 02-25-2012, 11:23 AM

I would have left mine as it was and tried it but it was worn side to side pretty bad too with a high spot in the middle.

**MajorBurnz** · 02-25-2012, 11:54 AM

I had a 'vintage' coticule that was pretty seriously dished. I was able to hone razors on it without issue. Maybe the bevels were convex, but it didn't seem to affect the edge itself.

I think perfectly lapped hones are a 'hobbyist' obsession. If you have just one hone you deal with issues as they come, and if you're not comfortable lapping away perfectly good hones, then you deal with dishing.

**tomjr** · 02-25-2012, 01:07 PM

+1 ^

**Doc226** · 02-25-2012, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by PDB

That's what I am talking about. Someone was probably using that to make a good edge. I suppose it could have been on a knife if the owner had quit using straight razors.

Even this one, the actual curved area is very, very small. If you lay out a 1 inch blade anywhere on the this stone or a truly flat one the difference in where the hone actually hits the blade is very small.

**PDB** · 02-25-2012, 08:25 PM

Thanks for all of the great replies. I love to hear that someone has used one, it will make me look a little harder before passing on some stones I see.

**smalltank** · 02-25-2012, 08:30 PM

Barbers used em in the hay days..didnt re lap em..no idea why

**GreekGuy** · 02-25-2012, 08:32 PM

A dished hone is a sign that it was well used, and probably a good hone. Dishing normally doesn't affect the honing at the finishing stage

**Drybonz** · 02-25-2012, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by hig789

I mated it to a piece of slate and lapped the dished side down. It ended up being about 4mm thick, enough for a lifetimes use.

That turned out nice, Hig... I saw the original thread about that and wondered what you ended up doing with it, but forgot to check.

**Pkrankow** · 02-26-2012, 06:37 AM

A gently swayed hone provides an effect similar to taping the spine to the angle of the edge, but is perfectly suitable to hone one. I know an old wood worker who swears by his swayed hones believing that they produce an edge that clears chips better and holds an edge longer because the bevel is convex instead of flat.

I am sure honing on a concave stone requires a bit more care than honing on a flat stone.

Phil