Thread: Aloxite Razor Hone by Carborundum Co.

Does any of you know this barber hone? The hone itself reads "Aloxite the Carborundum Company Niagara Falls" and the box "Razor Hone no 200" and "manufactured by the Carborundum Company reg. u.s. pat. off. Niagara Falls N.Y. U.S.A."




This is how I got it:


One corner is chipped:


As you can see it has some cratches, so it needs a good lapping:


The pictures I've seen of this hone display a very smooth and even coloured surface. They are described as very hard. This one has a sparkling and doesn't seem that hard. Could one in the knowledge elaborate on this?

I'd also like to know if you think this would be a good hone for a newbie to keep his razor in shape.

I've got a couple of those and I would describe them as being comparable to Swatys. Mine don't have the shiny bits. After you get it lapped, the only way to know for sure how it will work is to try it. I'd suggest you use it just like a Swaty. Use it for touch ups using the three to five strokes on water or thin lather, then strop it, and shave with it. Repeat as needed. Depending on the state of the edge at the start, you might have to hone a few days in a row but it's better to sneak up on it till you get a better sense of how the hone and razor do together. Besides, it really doesn't take that long to do five strokes.

wow man shiny !!

that's all I've got

Both of mine look more like brown glass, like the Swatys, while yours looks more powdery (best word I can think of). I suppose recipes may have changed over the years or else the guy making the mix had an off day.

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by Utopian

After you get it lapped, the only way to know for sure how it will work is to try it. I'd suggest you use it just like a Swaty. Use it for touch ups using the three to five strokes on water or thin lather, then strop it, and shave with it.

Yes, the best would be to try. Unfortunately, no: fortunately I have lots of natural hones to try out, and unfortunately not enough time and razors in need of touch ups to do so. Moreover, I know how to sharpen knives and tools, but my experience with razors is still below par. And this is my first barber hone.

I bought it because I liked the fact it still had its original case and I thought it a shame it looked so battered. Getting old hones into shape again is a nice passtime. When this one started to look like something, and more partial to naturals myself, I was wondering if it might please someone else. But it seemed so different from what I read about these hones that I liked to verify. I think your answers clarify:

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

wow man shiny !!

Originally Posted by Utopian

I've got a couple of those and I would describe them as being comparable to Swatys. Mine don't have the shiny bits.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Both of mine look more like brown glass, like the Swatys, while yours looks more powdery (best word I can think of).

Well this one is definitely an anomaly: it remains sparkly, not quite smooth to the touch, 'powdery' indeed, and is certainly not as hard as others' complaints about lapping these kind of hones would suggest.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I suppose recipes may have changed over the years or else the guy making the mix had an off day.

That probably sums it up best.

I just picked one up as well. Mine looks much lighter than yours, almost like it sat in the Sun for too long. It also has a rough feel to it, nothing like my swaty. I don't plan on using it, it came as part of a lot that I picked up for a belgian combo so I don't mind using it as a paper weight.

I just acquired one myself and have the same questions as you.
On the box it says it won three Grand Prizes/ GRAND PRIX PARIS 1900/ST LOUIS 1904 and the Gold medal Buffalo1901.
Mine is 4"by 2"by 1/2" and is a greyish sandy colour and very smooth.I really would like to know how you got on with it and should I hone my new Dovo Bismark with it.I am also new to straight razor shaving and have never honed one before, but I have a good idea how to do it and lap it.what do you think?

if what i am seeing on corner picture is correct i would just get rid of that stone.
it is too old to be used for straight razor.(is lapping this stone was very easy?)
In the other hand try it may work.

They are meant as "touch up" hones. Use them only when your razors edge starts to "pull" a bit. 5 round trip laps ( use water), strop and test shave. Repeat if necessary.
Be sure to lap it first.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

They are meant as "touch up" hones. Use them only when your razors edge starts to "pull" a bit. 5 round trip laps ( use water), strop and test shave. Repeat if necessary.
Be sure to lap it first.

Aloxite hones are made of aluminium oxide, like rubies and sapphires, which is extremely hard, resisting bluntening of the grains very well. All that may stand between you and its use is grain size and the degree to which it may be misshapen and chipped. I wouldn't let it touch any natural hone, as anything else is liable to lose out in the contest with aluminium oxide. A diamond hone would be best for lapping.

From its appearance and what others have said, it is possible that it may be that it is quite coarse, and intended for resharpenng a quite badly bluntened razor. This is the sort of thing a Gold Dollar or badly chipped razor may be useful for testing.