- All ferrous and non-ferrous metals
- Materials with a nickel or cobalt base
- With or without heat treatments
- With or without surface treatments
- Sintered materials
- Ceramic materials
- Glass
The overlapping cutting movement in honing is significantly different to grinding, with the tool rotating while simultaneously moving up and down, as also is the constant and widespread contact between the tool and the workpiece in honing. As with lapping, in honing the tool must be exactly matched to the workpiece geometry. By contrast, the abrasives used in honing tools are mechanically bonded to the honing bar or stone. Most honing stones are manufactured in silicon carbide or corundum; for maximum service life, diamond can be used. A self-sharpening effect can be obtained for hard materials through soft bonds and vice versa. The cutting motion is achieved through one oscillating movement and another counter-movement, such that their directions of movement cross at an angle of between 40 and 60 degrees on the forward and return movements.